Phoenix Pulse handa na para sa PBA D-League

MANILA, Philippines – Handa na ang Phoenix Pulse affiliate na Family Mart-Enderun College na manggulantang sa nalalapit na 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Developmental League na sisiklab na sa Pebrero 14 sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig.

Bagama’t isa sa bagito ng liga, sinigurado ng Enderun na makikipagsabayan ito kontra sa 19 pang ibang koponang kasali sa makasaysayang 20-team field ng prestihiyosong semi-professional league sa bansa.

“It will our first experience in this level so it will be tough,” ani Enderun coach Pipo Nondou na sinama-han nina Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia, Enderun President Edgardo Rodriguez at Family Mart General Manager Bernard Suiza.

Member school ng National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) at Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (MNCAA), pagkakataon ito ng Enderun upang masubukan ang kilatis kontra sa top collegiate teams mula sa University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

“That’s the goal, to go up against UAAP and NCAA teams. It’s time to take it to the next level,” dagdag ni Nondou na dating import ng Far Eastern University bago maging head coach ng Enderun noong 2012.

“One thing we can assure though is we will compete. We’re excited to show that.”

Subalit higit sa kompetisyon, preparasyon din ito ng Enderun para sa papalapit na seasons ng NAASCU at MNCAA.

“We’re joining the league to raise our level of competition so when we come back to NAASCU, we’ll be able to compete,” dagdag niya. “Our opponents have D-League experience. St. Clare has D-League expe-rience, CEU is a tough team to beat in the MNCAA. The goal is to make these guys better so that when we face them again, we have a better chance.”

Magugunitang noong nakaraang taon ay kinapos ang Enderun sa St. Clare at sa CEU sa NAASCU at MNCAA Finals, ayon sa pagkakasunod kaya’t gutom na makabawi ngayong taon.