THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) officially welcomed the league’s newest addition—the Phoenix Petroleum—after years of waiting.
The Fuel Masters, who bought the Barako Bull franchise for P100 million, were formally introduced to the public in a press conference on Wednesday also attended by PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa.
“It’s a dream come true for us. It’s different when you start from scratch, you have to be very patient,” said Dennis Uy, president and CEO of the Davao-based oil company.
Phoenix, who attempted to enter the league in 2011 but was denied by the PBA board, retained the services of Head Coach Koy Banal and the core of the old Energy squad.
For the Commissioner’s Cup, the Fuel Masters will be reinforced by the 6-foot-9 Nigerian Andrew Adeleke, a 240-pound center-forward from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
“We are very excited for our campaign. We have an import that can help us inside the paint. What we can promise is that, we will fight until the end,” said Banal, who will again rely on his veterans JC Intal, RR Garcia, and veterans Pennisi, Willy Wilson and Josh Urbiztondo.
“We are eyeing to be in the middle of the standings after the elimination and maybe a quarterfinal finish, at most,” Banal added.
Phoenix will debut on February 17 against NLEX.
The management also retained the assistant coaches, namely, Art de la Cruz, Paolo Rivero and Jonas Mendoza, and honored the remaining contracts of Mac Baracael, James Forrester, Emman Monfort, Prince Caperal, Jeric Fortuna, Rodney Brondial and Chico Lanete.
Uy will represent the team in the PBA board, while Vice President for External Affairs lawyer Raymond Zorilla will be the team’s alternate governor.