Twenty teams will lock horns once the 2019 PBA D-League season rolls around on February 14 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Go for Gold-CSB, the champions of the past 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, will return to the fold as it tries to extend their dynasty against a stacked field, which includes UAAP champions Ateneo, NCAA kings San Beda, NAASCU titlists St. Clare, and UCBL rulers Diliman College.
Fifteen school-based teams will join the tilt, as the record number of teams led the league to scrap the two-conference format and push through with the lone season staging.
League pioneer Centro Escolar University; last season’s back-to-back runner-up Che’Lu Bar & Grill; holdovers Marinerong Pilipino, Batangas-EAC; and AMA Online Education will all be part of this season’s competitions, as well as returnees Perpetual and Wangs Basketball.
UAAP teams FEU, UST, and NU, together with NCAA contenders Letran and San Sebastian, are all raring to test their mantle in the developmental ranks.
Newcomers Phoenix-Enderun, Trinity College, and McDavid will also make their debuts this season to complete the field.
Last year’s cellar-dwellers AMA Online Education will pick first in the 2019 PBA D-League Draft, set on January 15.
