The 2019 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup is the first conference of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) season. This will be the eighth Aspirants' Cup.
Format Twenty teams were included in the tournament. The elimination round will be divided into two groups of ten teams each. Each team will play the teams in its group once. The top four teams per group qualify for the quarterfinals. The higher-seed team in the quarterfinals will have the twice-to-beat advantage against the lower-seeded team from the other group. The quarterfinals winners advance to the semifinals, which is a best-of-3 series. The semifinals winners advance to the Finals, which is a best-of-5 series.
Venues
Most games will be played at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Other venues include the Paco Arena in Manila, JCSGO Gym and the Trinity University of Asia, both in Quezon City.
Teams
Returning teams from the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup: AMA Online Education Titans Batangas EAC Generals CEU Scorpions Che'Lu Bar and Grill Revellers Go for Gold Scratchers Partnered with the Benilde Blazers Marinerong Pilipino Skippers
Returning teams from previous conferences: Cignal Hawkeyes Partnered with the Ateneo Blue Eagles Perpetual Altas Wangs Basketball Couriers
New teams: CD14 Designs–Trinity White Stallions Diliman College Blue Dragons–Gerry's Grill FamilyMart–Enderun Titans FEU Tamaraws McDavid Apparels Metropac Movers–San Beda Red Lions Petron–Letran Knights SMDC–NU Bulldogs Ironcon–UST Growling Tigers Valencia City–San Sebastian Stags Virtual Reality–St. Clare Saints
On May 7, the Cha Dao–FEU Tamaraws dropped the sponsorship by Cha Dao Milk Tea for lack of payments. FEU team manager Richie Ticzon said Cha Dao owed them a "substantial amount of money."
The Far Eastern University now plan to press charges against James Machate after FEU and Cha Dao owner James Marcaida convened following their split in the 2019 PBA D-League.
Elimination round Group A Team standings
Results
Group B Team standings
Results
Playoff bracket
Quarterfinals Higher seeded teams has the twice-to-beat advantage against the lower seeded teams of the other group.
(A1) Cignal-Ateneo vs. (B4) Cha Dao-FEU
(B1) Valencia City-San Sebastian vs. (A4) Che'Lu
(A2) Virtual Reality-St. Clare vs. (B3) Metropac Movers-San Beda
(B2) CEU vs. (A3) Go for Gold-CSB
Semifinals This round is in a best-of-3 format. The winner advances to the finals.
(A1) Cignal-Ateneo vs. (B1) Valencia City-San Sebastian
(B2) CEU vs. (A2) Virtual Reality-St. Clare
Finals: (A1) Cignal-Ateneo vs. (B2) CEU This round is in a best-of-5 format. The winner wins the championship.
References