Looking back at the PBA D League 2019 season still gets my basketball-obsessed heart racing. I’ve followed this developmental league closely over the years, and I can confidently say the 2019 run was one of the most electrifying in recent memory—not just because of the high-flying dunks or buzzer-beaters, but because of the raw, untapped talent that began to shine on the national stage. It was a season where future Gilas Pilipinas prospects started making noise, and the energy in venues like the Ynares Sports Arena was absolutely infectious. I remember telling fellow analysts at the time that the D League wasn’t just a stepping stone anymore—it had become a must-watch platform in its own right.
One of the standout narratives that year revolved around how quickly certain players transitioned from D League standouts to national team contenders. Take the case of RJ Abarrientos and Juan Gomez de Liaño—though the latter wasn’t in that specific Gilas practice reference, his trajectory mirrors what we saw. Abarrientos, for instance, impressed not just with his speed but with his court vision. I recall watching him drop a 22-point, 8-assist game for FEU-A in the D League and thinking, "This kid is PBA-ready." And sure enough, by June, he was already attending Gilas Pilipinas’ first practice alongside other promising names. That kind of rapid ascent doesn’t happen by accident. It speaks volumes about the D League’s role in bridging amateur and professional hoops. Another name that had people buzzing was James Spencer, who averaged around 16 points per game for Marinerong Pilipino—a team that, in my opinion, played some of the most unselfish basketball I’ve seen in the league.
But it wasn’t just the guards who stole the show. Big men like Justin Arana and Will McAloney began dominating the paint in ways that reminded me of a young June Mar Fajardo—rough around the edges, yes, but with undeniable upside. Arana, in particular, put up monster numbers: something like 14.5 points and 11 rebounds per contest, if my memory serves. And then there was the intriguing situation with Kobe Paras—though he didn’t play in the D League that year, his shadow loomed large as fans debated whether his overseas experience would translate back home. I’ve always believed the D League offers a unique grind that shapes players differently, and 2019 proved that. Teams like Cignal-Ateneo and Bataan Risers fought tooth and nail, with Cignal eventually taking the Foundation Cup in a thrilling best-of-three series that went down to the wire.
Of course, no recap would be complete without touching on the Gilas cadet program integration. The reference about Abarrientos and Mikey Rosario attending Gilas’ first Monday practice while someone like Lucero was still in the U.S. on vacation highlights the varying paths these athletes take. Rosario, for example, brought a defensive tenacity that I felt was underrated—he averaged roughly 2.5 steals per game in the D League, and his energy was contagious. Meanwhile, Lucero’s absence from early preparations sparked some debate among us commentators: Was it a setback, or just part of managing a player’s long-term development? I lean toward the latter, but it’s these little subplots that made the 2019 season so layered.
What stood out to me most, though, was the league’s growing emphasis on three-point shooting and pace. Stats showed that D League teams attempted an average of 28 threes per game—a significant jump from previous seasons. This wasn’t just random chucking; it was systematic, spacing-oriented basketball that mirrored global trends. I remember chatting with a coach who told me they specifically drilled players like Aljun Melecio to launch from deep off screens, and it showed in games where he’d sink five or six triples effortlessly. That kind of strategic evolution makes me optimistic about Philippine basketball’s future.
As the season wrapped up, it was clear that the PBA D League had cemented itself as a crucial pipeline. The 2019 batch produced at least seven players who were either drafted or signed by PBA teams by the following year, and the level of competition had visibly risen. Reflecting on it now, I’d argue that season was a turning point—a blend of youthful exuberance and tactical maturity that left us all eager for more. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or a casual observer, the 2019 D League season was a reminder that greatness often starts in places where the lights aren’t as bright, but the heart? It’s always there, pounding with every possession.