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| The Malaysia Dragons will make up the Blu Dragons in the PBA D-League. Kuk Thew/ABL (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
QUEZON CITY--Blu formally makes a return to the Philippine basketball scene as they clash with Tanduay in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the JCSGO Gym on Monday.
Built around the core of the reigning ABL champions Malaysia Dragons, the Blu squad, aptly called the Dragons, battle the Rhum Masters at 4 p.m., just as the AMA Titans and the Phoenix Accelerators finish their own match scheduled at a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Bolstering Blu's lineup for the tournament are Filipino stalwarts Juami Tiongson and Christian Palma, who were loaned by Blackwater to what would now be their D-League affiliate.
The Dragons' ABL heritage imports, Matthew Wright and Jason Brickman, opted to skip the D-League tournament.
Also not going to be part of the team is Coach Ariel Vanguardia, who was named as the Phoenix Fuel Masters' gaffer for the PBA Governors' Cup. Leading the Dragons will be Goh Cheng Huat.
[Related Story: Phoenix continues revamp, names Vanguardia coach, trades for Wilson]
They are using the Foundation Cup as part of their preseason buildup for the 2017 ABL season.
Blu became a household name in Philippine basketball during the late 90's and the early 2000's during their stint in the D-League's de facto predecessor PBL, jumpstarting Asi Taulava's stellar career.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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