# PBA D-League

The PBA D-League, or PBA Developmental League, is the official minor league of the Philippine Basketball Association.

## History

The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas after the staging of the Tournament of the Philippines which was composed by PBL and Liga Pilipinas teams. PBA Commissioner Chito Salud proposed the formation of a PBA D-League, which will fill the void left by the PBL. On January 25, 2011, the PBA Board of Governors approved the proposal.
The maiden tournament, named "Foundation Cup" began on March 12, 2011 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The tournament composed of 13 teams, with five teams (Junior Powerade, NLEX, Maynilad, Freego and Cafe France) having affiliation with existing PBA teams. Four teams (Cobra Energy Drink, Agri-Nature Inc./FCA, Pharex, and Cafe France) from the Philippine Basketball League filed for application in the PBA D-League, when they failed to acquire a sixth team in order to smoothly run the league. The NLEX Road Warriors became the champions of the tournament, winning two games to none against the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.
The second tournament, dubbed as the "Aspirant's Cup" began on October 20. Four teams (Maynilad, Junior Powerade, Max Bond and Pharex) did not join the tournament. However, two new teams (Boracay Rum and Informatics) made their debut in the D-League.
The D-League has held its own rookie draft since the 2013–14 PBA season.
In August 2015, the PBA approved plans for a nationwide D-League and a Women's D-League that will open soon. From 2016, the men's competition was first to be held in three separate, simultaneous tournaments, first in Luzon and later in the Visayas and Mindanao. The three regional champions would join the national championship round which would be joined by Metro Manila teams. However the plan was never fully realized with the Northern Luzon tournament never finished and the Visayas tournament cancelled.
The 2020 season was indefinitely postponed in March 2020 with only some games of the Aspirants Cup played before the season was cancelled altogether in September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league has not held games as of 2021. The resumption of the D-League has been hampered by the fact that league heavily relies on school-based teams.

## Teams

Teams in the PBA D-League had to pay a participating fee either on a per conference or per season basis. Unlike the PBA, the number of participating teams may vary per conference.

### Current teams (2024)

| Team | Company / College | Joined | Titles | Head coach | PBA affiliate |
| CCI–Yengskivel Crusaders | Cornerstone College (SJDM, Bulacan) Yengskivel Sportswear | 2024 Aspirants' | 0 | Arwin Villamor Adina | — |
| CEU Scorpions | Centro Escolar University | 2017 Foundation | 0 | Jeff Perlas | — |
| EcoOil–La Salle Green Archers | EcoOil Ltd. De La Salle University | 2020 Aspirants' | 3 | Gian Nazario | — |
| GoTorakku–St. Clare Saints | Torakku Motor Assembly St. Clare College of Caloocan | 2024 Aspirants' | 0 | Jinino Manansala | — |
| Keanzel Believers | Keanzel Basketball | 2024 Aspirants' | 0 | Mark Herrera | — |
| Marinerong Pilipino Skippers–San Beda | Marinerong Pilipino Group San Beda University | 2017 Foundation | 0 | Yuri Escueta | TNT Tropang Giga |

### Former teams

| Team | Owner | PBA affiliate | First tournament | Last tournament |
| FCA Cultivators Big Chill Super Chargers | Agri-Nurture, Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2014 Foundation |
| Maynilad Water Dragons | Maynilad Water Services Inc. | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 2011 Foundation | 2011 Foundation |
| Max Bond Super Glue Sumos | Magnaprime Corporation | — | 2011 Foundation | 2011 Foundation |
| Pharex Naproxen Sodium Bidang Generix | Pascual Laboratories, Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2011 Foundation |
| Freego Jeans | EINSCO Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2012 Aspirant's |
| Cobra Energy Drink Iron Men | Asia Brewery, Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2012 Aspirant's |
| Dub Unlimited Wheelers | Mega Dub Unlimited Specialist Inc. | — | 2012 Aspirant's | 2012 Aspirant's |
| Junior Powerade Tigers | Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. | Powerade Tigers | 2011 Foundation | 2012 Foundation |
| PC Gilmore Wizards | PC Gilmore, Inc. | — | 2011 Aspirant's | 2012 Aspirant's |
| RnW Pacific Pipes Steelmasters | RnW Pacific Pipes Corporation | — | 2011 Foundation | 2012 Foundation |
| Erase XFoliant Erasers | Universal Knowledge DermPharma, Inc. | GlobalPort Batang Pier | 2012 Foundation | 2012 Aspirants |
| Informatics Icons | Informatics International University | — | 2012 Aspirants | 2013 Foundation |
| Fruitas Shakers | Fruitas Group | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 2012 Aspirants | 2013 Foundation |
| Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants | AliKaiser International Incorporated | — | 2013 Foundation | 2015 Foundation |
| EA Regen Med Regens | EA Regen Medical Group, Inc. | — | 2013 Foundation | 2013 Foundation |
| Arellano Chiefs | Arellano University | Air21 Express | 2013 Aspirants | 2013 Aspirants |
| NLEX Road Warriors | Metro Pacific Investments Corporation | Meralco Bolts | 2011 Foundation | 2014 Foundation |
| Boracay Rum Waves | Asia Brewery, Inc. | — | 2012 Foundation | 2013 Foundation |
| Blackwater Sports | Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2014 Foundation |
| Hog's Breath Cafe Razorbacks | Hog's Breath Cafe | — | 2013 Foundation | 2014 Foundation |
| Derulo Accelero Oilers | UR Value Corporation | Alaska Aces | 2013 Aspirants | 2014 Foundation |
| MJM M-Builders | Mercado Builders MJM Productions, Inc. | — | 2013 Aspirants | 2014 Aspirants |
| Bread Story Smashing Bakers | Bread Story Philippines | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 2014 Aspirants | 2014 Aspirants |
| Cagayan Valley Rising Suns | Cagayan Province LGU | — | 2012 Foundation | 2015 Foundation |
| Hapee Fresh Fighters | Lamoiyan Corporation | NLEX Road Warriors | 2014 Aspirants | 2015 Foundation |
| Cebuana Lhuillier Gems | Cebuana Lhuillier | — | 2011 Foundation | 2015 Foundation |
| MP Hotel Warriors | MP Promotions, Inc. | Kia Carnival | 2014 Aspirants | 2015 Foundation |
| LiverMarin Guardians - San Sebastian Golden Stags | ATC Healthcare Corporation San Sebastian College - Recoletos | — | 2015 Foundation | 2015 Foundation |
| BDO - NU Bulldogs | BDO Unibank, Inc. National University | Blackwater Elite | 2013 Aspirants | 2016 Aspirants |
| Phoenix Accelerators | Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. | Phoenix Fuelmasters | 2016 Aspirants | 2016 Foundation |
| QRS / JAM Liner - UP Fighting Maroons | QRS Logistics JAM Liner, Inc. University of the Philippines | Mahindra Enforcer | 2016 Aspirants | 2016 Aspirants |
| Z.C. Mindanao Aguilas | Kings Janitorial Services and Cooperative of Zamboanga | Globalport Batang Pier | 2016 Aspirants | 2016 Foundation |
| Victoria Sports - MLQU Stallions | Victoria Sports Manuel L. Quezon University | — | 2017 Aspirants | 2017 Aspirants |
| Blustar Detergent Dragons - Malaysia | Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. Westports Malaysia Holdings | Blackwater Elite | 2016 Foundation | 2017 Aspirants |
| Cafe France Bakers | Cafe France Corporation | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 2011 Foundation | 2017 Aspirants |
| Racal Motors Alibaba Caida Tile Masters | Racal Group of Companies | — | 2014 Aspirants | 2017 Foundation |
| Flying V Thunder | Flying V Petroleum | — | 2017 Foundation | 2017 Foundation |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | Tanduay Distillers, Inc. | — | 2011 Foundation | 2017 Foundation |
| Mila's Lechon Mighty Roasters | Mila's Lechon and Restaurant | — | 2018 Aspirants | 2018 Aspirants |
| Akari - Adamson Soaring Falcons | Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation Adamson University | — | 2018 Aspirants | 2018 Aspirants |
| Gamboa Coffee Mixers | Universal Knowledge DermPharma, Inc. | — | 2017 Foundation | 2018 Aspirants |
| Zark's Jawbreakers - LPU Pirates | Zark's Burgers Lyceum of the Philippines University | Phoenix Fuelmasters | 2017 Foundation | 2018 Aspirants |
| JRU Heavy Bombers | Jose Rizal University | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel | 2012 Foundation | 2018 Aspirants |
| Cignal HD Hawkeyes Cignal HD - Ateneo Blue Eagles | Cignal TV, Inc. Ateneo de Manila University | NLEX Road Warriors | 2017 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| Che'Lu Bar & Grill Revellers | Hydra Connection Entertainment Corporation | — | 2018 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| Go For Gold Scratchers - College of Saint Benilde Blazers | Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde | Blackwater Elite | 2018 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| The Masterpiece / CD14 Designs - Trinity Stallions | The Masterpiece Clothing CD14 Designs Custom Sports Apparels Trinity University of Asia | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| Metropac Movers - San Beda Red Lions | Metro Pacific Investments Corporation San Beda University | TNT Katropa | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| SMDC - NU Bulldogs | SM Development Corporation National University | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| Batangas EAC Generals | Batangas Province LGU Emilio Aguinaldo College | Meralco Bolts | 2017 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| Petron - Letran Knights | Petron Corporation Colegio de San Juan de Letran | San Miguel Beermen | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Aspirants |
| FEU Tamaraws | Cha Dao Tea Place Seaoil Philippines Far Eastern University | Magnolia Hotshots | 2019 Aspirants | 2020 Aspirants |
| Apex Fuel - San Sebastian Golden Stags | Apex Fuel Mindanao San Sebastian College-Recoletos | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2022 Aspirants |
| Builders Warehouse - UST Growling Tigers | Racal Group of Companies University of Santo Tomas | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2022 Aspirants |
| Nail Talk & Beauty Spa - St. Dominic Savio Unicorns | Nail Talk & Beauty Spa St. Dominic Savio College | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| iWalk Chargers | iWalk Philippines | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| Italianos Homme | Italianos Homme Shoes | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| McDavid Apparels - De La Salle Araneta Stallions | McDavid Philippines De La Salle Araneta University | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Foundation |
| Diliman College Blue Dragons | Diliman College | GlobalPort Batang Pier | 2019 Aspirants | 2020 Aspirants |
| FamilyMart - Enderun Titans | FamilyMart Enderun Colleges | Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters | 2019 Aspirants | 2020 Aspirants |
| BRT Sumisip Basilan - St. Clare Saints | St. Clare College of Caloocan Province of Basilan LGU | — | 2019 Aspirants | 2019 Foundation |
| Hyperwash Vipers | Hyperwash Laundromat | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| Asia's Lashes Soldiers | Asia's Lashes Tomas Morato, Quezon City | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| Alberei Kings | Alberei Advertising Corporation Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| Hazchem Green Warriors | Hazchem Inc. Calamba, Laguna | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| Black Mamba Energy Drink | Corbridge Group Philippines | — | 2019 Foundation | 2019 Foundation |
| ADG Dong - Mapua Cardinals | ADG Group of Companies Mapua University | Blackwater Elite | 2020 Aspirants | 2020 Aspirants |
| TIP Engineers | Technological Institute of the Philippines | — | 2020 Aspirants | 2020 Aspirants |
| Adalem Construction - St. Clare College | Adalem Construction St. Clare College of Caloocan | — | 2022 Aspirants | 2022 Aspirants |
| AMA Online Education Titans | AMA University | — | 2014 Aspirants | 2023 Aspirants' |
| Perpetual Help Altas | University of Perpetual Help System DALTA | — | 2018 Aspirants' | 2023 Aspirants' |
| PSP Gymers | Philippine Sports Performance Fitness Centre | — | 2023 Aspirants' | 2023 Aspirants' |
| Wang's Basketball–Letran | PRC Courier & Maintenance Services Colegio de San Juan de Letran | NorthPort Batang Pier | 2013 Aspirants' | 2023 Aspirants' |

## List of champions

| PBA Season | Conference | Champion | Series | Runner-Up | Winning coach | Conference MVP | Team |
| 2011 | Foundation | NLEX | 2-0 | Cebuana Lhuillier | Boyet Fernandez | Allein Maliksi | Cebuana Lhuillier |
| 2011–12 | Aspirants' | NLEX | 2-0 | Freego | Boyet Fernandez | Vic Manuel | Cebuana Lhuillier |
| 2011–12 | Foundation | NLEX | 2-0 | Big Chill | Boyet Fernandez | Cliff Hodge | NLEX |
| 2012–13 | Aspirants' | NLEX | 2-0 | Cagayan | Boyet Fernandez | Ian Sangalang | NLEX |
| 2012–13 | Foundation | Blackwater | 2-0 | NLEX | Leo Isaac | Jake Pascual | NLEX |
| 2013–14 | Aspirants' | NLEX | 2-0 | Big Chill | Boyet Fernandez | Garvo Lanete | NLEX |
| 2013–14 | Foundation | NLEX | 2-0 | Blackwater | Boyet Fernandez | Kevin Alas | NLEX |
| 2014–15 | Aspirants' | Hapee | 2-0 | Cagayan | Ronnie Magsanoc | Bobby Ray Parks Jr. | Hapee |
| 2014–15 | Foundation | Café France | 2-1 | Hapee | Edgar Macaraya | Moala Tautuaa | Cebuana Lhuillier |
| 2016 | Aspirants' | Phoenix | 3-2 | Café France | Eric Gonzales | Mac Belo | Phoenix |
| 2016 | Foundation | Phoenix | 2-1 | Tanduay | Eric Gonzales | Mike Tolomia | Phoenix |
| 2017 | Aspirants' | Cignal HD - San Beda | 2-1 | Racal Tile | Boyet Fernandez | Robert Bolick | Cignal HD - San Beda |
| 2017 | Foundation | Cignal HD | 2-0 | CEU | Boyet Fernandez | Raymar Jose | Cignal HD |
| 2018 | Aspirants' | Zark's Burgers - LPU | 2-1 | Che'Lu Bar and Grill - SSC-R | Topex Robinson | CJ Perez | Zark's Burgers - LPU |
| 2018 | Foundation | Go for Gold | 3-2 | Che'Lu Bar and Grill | Charles Tiu | Jeff Viernes | Che'Lu Bar and Grill |
| 2019 | Aspirants' | Cignal HD - Ateneo | 3-1 | CEU | Tab Baldwin | Isaac Go | Cignal HD - Ateneo |
| 2019 | Foundation | BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare | 2-1 | Marinerong Pilipino | Stevenson Tiu | Eliud Poligrates | Marinerong Pilipino |
| 2020 | Aspirants' | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | Aspirants' | EcoOil–La Salle | 2-1 | Marinerong Pilipino | Derrick Pumaren | Juan Gómez de Liaño | Marinerong Pilipino |
| 2023 | Aspirants' | EcoOil–La Salle | 2-0 | Marinerong Pilipino - San Beda | Topex Robinson | Kevin Quiambao | EcoOil–La Salle |
| 2024 | Aspirants' | EcoOil–La Salle | 2-0 | CEU | Gian Nazario | Michael Philips | EcoOil–La Salle |
| 2025 | Aspirants' | | | | | | |