CENTRO Escolar University makes its debut in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Thursday against Asia's Lashes Tomas Morato at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Scorpions are coming off a roller-coaster ride in the Aspirants' Cup, where they got reduced to eight players due to game-fixing allegations but still managed to reach the finalswhere they bowed to Ateneo.
CEU parades a full lineup, led by Senegalese big man Malick Diouf and Rich Guinitaran.
"We are ready to put the past conference behind and start anew this Foundation Cup," said coach Derrick Pumaren.
Asia's Lashes, meanwhile, is coming off a 106-105 win over AMA Online Education last Thursday.
The Alvin Grey-mentored Asia's Lashes will be counting on James Martinez, Adrian Celada and Levi Dela Cruz anew.
"Sana matuloy-tuloy namin yung panalo namin," said Grey, a former deputy coach under Pido Jarencio and Jerry Codinera in the collegiate leagues.
Meanwhile, former PBA champion Jonas Villanueva makes his head coaching debut with iWalk as the newcomers take on AMA Online Education in the 1:30 p.m. curtain-raiser.
BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare guns for a share of leadership in Group B as it battles Hyperwash at 3:30 p.m.