Jawbreakers, Skippers magbabanggaan na

Laro Ngayon  (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)

 3 p.m.  Opening Ceremonies

4 p.m. Marinerong Pilipino vs Zark’s Burger-Lyceum

MANILA, Philippines — Maghaharap ang mga paboritong Marinerong Pilipino at Zark’s Burger sa pagbubukas ngayon ng 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.

Mahigit 13 koponan, 11 nito mga collegiate-based teams ang magtatagisan ng husay sa unang confe­rence ng Developmental League na napanalunan ng Cignal-San Beda Haw­keyes noong nakaraang taon kung saan hinirang si Ro­bert Bolick bilang Best Player of the Conference.

Bagama’t nagpahinga ang Cignal sa taong ito, marami pa ring malalakas na koponan na inaasahang magdodomina sa confe­rence kabilang na ang AMA Online ni Andre Paras at Zark’s Burger-Lyceum ni NCAA MVP CJ Perez.

Susukatin ng Marinerong Pilipino ang talento ng Zarks’s Burger sa alas-4 ng hapon pagkatapos ng opening ceremonies na itinakda sa alas-3 ng hapon.

“It’s hard for us to consider ourselves as a top team since we don’t have the experience yet. I’m excited to have an opportunity to play against a well-coached team with a good set of players,” sabi ni Zark’s coach Topex Ro­binson na nag-runner-up sa nakaraang 93rd season ng NCAA basketball tourney.

Sa panig naman ni da­ting PBA coach Koy Banal ang head coach ng Marinerong Pinoy, mahigit pito sa kanyang roster ay mga baguhan kaya kailangan pa ang chemistry para maging solid ang kanilang opensa at depensa.

“We are practically a new team with seven pla­yers who just practiced less than three weeks ago. I wish we could have more time to practice as a team because it takes time to learn the system. So, che­mistry is definitely g­oing to be a disadvantage for us,” ayon kay Banal.

Tinutukoy ni Banal ang mga baguhang sina Alvin Pasaol ng UE Red Warriors, Abu Tratter ng De La Salle Green Archers at Vince Tolentino, ang team captain ng UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Bukod sa Marinerong Pilipino at Zark’s Burger-Lyceum, ang iba pang kasali ay ang Akari-Adamson ni coach Franz Pumaren, Centro Escolar University, Che’ Lu Bar,  Grill-San Sebastian, Wangs Basketball-Letran, Jose Rizal University, Go for Gold, Batangas-EAC, University of Perpetual Help Altas, Gamboa Coffee-St. Clare at  Mila’s Lechon.