There's life after the Philippine Basketball Association for short-lived pros. They get their second chance as they try to prove their worth in the PBA-D-League.
Jun-Jun Cabatu, Ogie Menor and Marvin Hayes are some of the players seeking a return trip to the big league as they strut their wares when the D-League opens on March 12 at The Arena in San Juan.
Cabatu, son of PBA’s first-ever top rookie pick Sonny Cabatu, will lead the Max Bond Super Glue squad in the inaugural staging of this developmental league patterned after the NBA Development League (NBDL) in the United States.
The 6-foot-5 former La Salle standout was one of the three players directly elevated by Welcoat (now Rain or Shine) when the squad entered the league in 2006. Cabatu also briefly suited up for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.
Cabatu last played for the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League. He will be joined in Max Bond Super Glue by another ex-pro — Mark Benitez.
The 6-foot-5 Benitez was picked up by the now defunct Sta. Lucia Realtors in the 2009 Rookie Draft.
Menor, a young, talented player from San Beda, was also part of the 2009 Rookie Class. He was selected No. 7 overall by the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, but was shipped to the Sta. Lucia Realtors, then moved to the Meralco Bolts.
But Menor was cut from the Bolts’ line-up following the entry of Sol Mercado, who was part of the multi-player, three-team trade deal involving Meralco, Air21 and Rain or Shine prior to the start of this season's PBA Commissioner's Cup.
The 6-foot-2 swingman then found himself relegated to one of the farm teams run by businessman Manny V. Pangilinan — the North Luzon Expressway Road Warriors — together with another former Meralco player, Ford Arao.
But the team which has the most number of ex-pros is the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.
The Gems will have the 6-foot-4 Hayes and five other ex-PBA players — Benedict Fernandez, Kelvin Gregorio, Pari Llagas, Chris Canta and James Seña.
Fernandez was a second-round draft choice of the Barako Bull in 2009, but was cut and found himself playing for the Patriots last year.
Gregorio, a 6-foot-4 forward out of University of the East, was a first-round draftee of Sta. Lucia in 2008.
Llagas was one of two rookies picked up by B-Meg Derby Ace last year, but was left unsigned. He then found a spot with the Patriots in the ABL.
Canta was an undrafted rookie picked up by San Miguel last season, while Seña was another former Beermen, who was plucked at the end of the first round of the 2009 Rookie Draft.
Pharex will have its lone ex-pro in Edwin Asoro, a second-round draftee of the Barako Bulls two years ago.
Former PBA Rookie of the Year Leo Austria, whose Adamson Falcons unit will compose the Freego team in the D-League, opted not to get an ex-pro at this time.
"As far as the development of our team is concerned, this is okay, but as for competitiveness, then I think we're inferior compared to other teams," said Austria.
Bernard Yang, a long-time team manager of Hapee and now team manager of Cafe France, will bring in the nucleus of the Centro Escolar University Scorpions. His squad also doesn't have an ex-pro.
"Siguro exposure muna hahabulin namin, then tsaka na kami magpapalakas," said Yang.
Rey Joble, GMA News TV
