La Salle, San Beda banner six-team field in PBA D-League

Defending champion EcoOil-La Salle and last year’s runner-up Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda will banner a six-team field for the 2024 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup slated to kick off on March 14 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Completing the cast are Centro Escolar University, Gotorakku-St. Clare, Keanzel, and CCI-Yengskivel with the Green Archers seeking to bag their third straight crown behind reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao. 

All teams will figure in a single round robin classification with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals round while the other four teams will play in a best-of-three series to determine the other semifinalists. 

La Salle is tipped as the early favorites as it seeks to retain the throne.

In D-League’s return in 2022, La Salle leaned on Schonny Winston and Mike Phillips as they frustrated Marinerong Pilipino in their finals clash. They then repeated over Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda in 2023 when Quiambao and the backcourt duo of Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy steered the Taft crew to a sweep en route to back-to-back titles. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News