PHOENIX Petroleum and National University-BDO will join the initial seven teams seeing action in the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.
After knocking on the door of the pro league for some time now, Phoenix finally makes its debut in big-time basketball circle in the season-opening tournament of the D-League this January.
NU-BDO, meanwhile, will be making its return to the league with the core of the National University Bulldogs.
Phoenix and NU-BDO will be joining Foundation Cup champion Café France, Racal Motors, Tanduay Light, AMA, Mindanao Aguilas, Wangs Basketball, and Jam Liner, which will have a school tie-up with University of the Philippines.
Last year’s Foundation Cup champion Hapee, Cebuana Lhuillier, and Cagayan Valley, however, will no longer see action this conference.
Racal Motors owns the No. 1 pick in the D-League draft set Tuesday at the PBA Café in Pasig.
There will be new rules this season with school-based teams mandated to field six players from their varsity lineup. Imports are still allowed to play for school-based squads, which must name nine more locals coming from their varsity team in the 14-man roster.
The age limit for players will now be 30 years old.
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