Lhuillier five to debut vs CafeFrance in D-League

MANILA, Philippines - Pre-tournament favorite Cebuana Lhuillier tries to live up to the hype as it opens its bid against CaféFrance in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at The Arena in San Juan today.

Bannered by former pros Benedict Fernandez (Barako Bull) and Kelvin Gregorio (Sta. Lucia) as well as college standouts James Ryan Sena, Marvin Hayes and Kevin Alas, the Jewelers have been installed as among the early title favorites in the inaugural league together with the NLEX Road Warriors.

They take on the CaféFrance side in a duel of Group B teams at 4 p.m.

CaféFrance, meanwhile, is bannered by the core of the Centro Escolar Scorpions and backstopped by National University’s Jewel Ponferrada and Jose Rizal University’s Ildefonson Bulangis.

In Group A, Pharex and Blackwater Elite collide in the 2 p.m. opener with the Bidang Generix composed of PBA rookie free-agent Edwin Asoro, one-time UST and Harbour Centre stalwart Chester Taylor and Fil-Am free agent Jason Deutchman.

Blackwater Elite, on the other hand, will be led by the Arellano Chiefs.

Today’s winners will join early leaders Pacific Pipes and NLEX in Group A, and FCA Cultivators and Cobra in Group B.