PBA operations manager Rickie Santos confirmed the news shortly after league commissioner Chito Salud met with the team representatives Monday at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City.

“We have set a deadline of Feb. 15 for teams to submit their letter of intent," said Santos.

Teams which have no existing franchise in the PBA will only need to pay P300,000 to join a tournament that will last until June 9. PBA teams, which will form its farm squads in the D-League, will get in free of charge.

So far, three teams with existing PBA squads – Maynilad and Metro Paficic Tollways, which are both controlled by businessman/sportsman Manuel V. Pangilinan, and Powerade Tigers-University of the Philippines of Coca-Cola – have assured their participation in this tournament open for players 17 to 26 years old.

A team that is an affiliate of a regular member squad of the pro league will need to pay P150,000 only.

The team representatives who were present in the meeting were Avelino Relucio of PC Gilmore, Enrico Lopez and Peejay Barua of Maynilad, BJ Manalo of Fitwell Nutraceuticals, Inc., Bernard Yang of Hapee Toothpaste, Riley Winpeco of Handyfix/Max Bond, Christopher Lizo and Ronald Dularte of Metro Pacific Tollways, Roman Ong Jr. of ANI-FCA, Ricky Dandan and JB Baylon of Powerade, Bimbo Gaviola and Kenneth Duremdes of Pacific Pipes, Patrick Aquino of Black Water of Ever Bilena, and telecommunications executive and former PBA commissioner candidate Lambert Ramos, who represented a team which he has yet to disclose.

“The good thing about this league is mura lang yung entry fee, which is P300,000. Hindi ka gagastos rito ng P2-million in maintaining a team," said Yang. "Plus the fact that the league will be under the auspices of the PBA."

Santos added that the D-League will impose a P1-million salary cap per team. Every squad is only required to give a minimum of P15,000 and maximum of P30,000 allowance for players.

“Bonuses will also be affordable for team owners. In the elimination round, the won-game bonus is P1,000, in the semifinal round it's P2,000, in the finals round it's P3,000, and up to P20,000 to the champion," added Santos.

PBA media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial said they are initially targeting six to eight teams for the league patterned after the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) in the United States.

“We’re planning Tuesday and Thursday games for a regular six-team cast, while Saturday games will be added if the teams competing are eight or more," said Marcial.

No commissioner was named for the D-League, but it will be under the supervision of the PBA Commissioner’s Office. The PBA is expected to name the tournament’s director soon.

The D-League will also go on a campus tour, according to Santos.

“The idea is we’re going to have a clinic in the campuses to be conducted by a PBA team. This will happen before a regular game takes place," added Santos.

The D-League was created by the PBA to provide a venue for college players and aspiring pro players seeking an in-between league before entering Asia’s pioneering pro league.

Beginning next year, the D-League will implement a residency rule for Fil-foreign players who wish to enter the PBA Rookie Draft.

Fil-foreign players who are 26 years old and below will need to play in the D-League for at least four conferences. Those who are 26 years old and above will need to see action for at least two conferences.

For local PBA Rookie Draft applicants, they need to play in the D-League for at least a conference.

Rey Joble, GMA News TV