Phoenix Fuel Masters

Phoenix Fuel Masters
History
Phoenix Fuel Masters (2016–present)
Joined PBA	2016
Team colors
Company	Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.
Owner(s)	Dennis Uy
Board governor	Dennis Uy Raymund Zorilla (alternate)
Team manager	Paolo Bugia
Head coach	Koy Banal
Championships
None

The Phoenix Fuel Masters is a professional basketball team owned by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. which will debut in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in the 2016 Commissioner's Cup. The franchise began after the company acquired the second Barako Bull team in January 2016.

History

In March 2011, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., a sponsor of the PBA games, had expressed interest in acquiring a PBA franchise and were in talks to acquire the franchise of the original Barako Bull Energy Boosters team (owned by the Energy Food and Drink, Inc.).^[1] For the sale to proceed, a two-thirds approval from the PBA Board of Governors was needed (7 out of 10 votes).^[2] However, it failed to get the necessary number of votes.^[3] Reportedly, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) intended to rename its PBA team as the Petron Blaze Boosters for the 2011 PBA Governors Cup, hence its objection to the proposed entry of Phoenix Petroleum, a business competitor of Petron, in 2011.^[4] SMC reverted to playing as the San Miguel Beermen in 2014.

In July 2011, the PBA franchise of the original Barako Bull Energy Boosters was acquired by the Lina Group of Companies, owner of the original Air21 Express team, reportedly for 50 million pesos.^[5] The franchise went on to play as the Shopinas.com Clickers^[6] and, later, as the second Air21 Express team. In June 2014, the Lina Group sold this franchise to Manila North Tollways Corporation and became the NLEX Road Warriors.^[7][8]

The Start Of Fuel Masters

In January 2016, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. sealed a deal to acquire the team known as the second Barako Bull team (also known as the original Air21 Express team) from the Lina Group, reportedly in the amount of 100 million pesos.^[9] The PBA board of governors unanimously approved the sale on January 20, 2016. In addition, the board also gave its approval for Phoenix Petroleum to play in the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup instead of waiting until the 2016-17 PBA season.^[10] The coaching staff, players' contracts and contractual obligations will be carried over by the new owners.^[11]

On February 10, 2016, the Phoenix Fuel Masters officially announced their entry into the PBA with a press conference, followed by the unveiling of their new uniforms, held at Novotel Manila in Araneta Center, Cubao.^[12] The Fuel Masters debuted in the PBA with a 118-106 win over the NLEX Road Warriors at the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup, with Nigerian Kenny Adeleke as import.^[13] After four games, he was waived and Kevinn Pinkney took his place as the team reinforcement.

Current roster

Phoenix Fuel Masters roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G/F 1 Forrester, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1989–09–03 Arellano G 2 Urbiztondo, Josh 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1983–02–27 Fresno Pacific G/F 7 Intal, J.C. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1983–11–18 Ateneo G 8 Garcia, R.R. 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1990–01–12 FEU G 14 Knuttel, Jens 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 169 lb (77 kg) 1989–09–17 FEU F/C 20 Caperal, Prince 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1993–06–12 Arellano G 26 Lanete, Chico 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1979–08–01 Lyceum F 28 Wilson, William 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980–01–30 La Salle F/C 33 Andrada, Yutien (R / IN) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1990–11–18 La Salle F/C 34 Miranda, Michael (R) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–12–12 San Sebastian G 42 Sorongon, Paul 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1985–12–12 UP C 88 Pennisi, Mick (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–03–13 Eastern Michigan F 91 Brondial, Rodney 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1990–11–20 Adamson G -- Enciso, Simon (R) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1991–02–12 NDNU F -- Borboran, Mark 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1984–11–20 UE	Head coach Koy Banal Assistant coach(es) Arturo dela Cruz (1st Assistant) Jonas Mendoza Paolo Rivero Team manager Paolo Bugia Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie Injured Roster

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench 1	Bench 2	Inactive
C	Mick Pennisi	Prince Caperal	Yutien Andrada
PF	Willy Wilson	Rodney Brondial	Michael Miranda
SF	JC Intal	Mark Borboran
SG	Chico Lanete	Josh Urbiztondo	James Forrester
PG	RR Garcia	Simon Enciso

Players of Notes

Local Players
(A-F) Yutien Andrada Mac Baracael Mark Borboran Rodney Brondial Prince Caperal Simon Enciso James Forrester Jeric Fortuna (G-L) RR Garcia JC Intal Jens Knuttel Chico Lanete (M-R) Michael Miranda Emman Monfort Mick Pennisi (S-Z) Paul Sorongan Josh Urbiztondo Willy Wilson

Imports
Kenny Adeleke Kevinn Pinkney

Front Office

Coaches

Phoenix Fuel Masters Head Coaches
2016–present # Name Start End Regular Season Playoffs Best Finish Achievements GC W L Win% GC W L Win% 1 Banal, KoyKoy Banal 2016 Incumbent 7 2 5 .286 –

Assistant Coaches	Team Manager	Board Governor	Alternate Governor
Arthur Dela Cruz (2016 – present) Jigs Mendoza (2016 – present) Paolo Rivero (2016 – present)	Paolo Bugia (2016 – present)	Dennis Uy (2016 – present)	Raymund Zorilla (2016 – present)

Season-by-season records

Records from the 2015–16 PBA season:

Conf.	Team name	Elimination round				Playoffs
		Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
PHI	Barako Bull Energy franchise
COM	Phoenix Fuel Masters	TBD	2	5	.286	TBD
GOV		TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
Total elimination round			0	0	.000	0 semifinal appearances
Total playoffs			0	0	.000	0 Finals appearances
Total 2015-16			0	0	.000	0 championships
Total franchise			0	0	.000	0 championships

*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage

References

1. Beltran, Nelson (2011-03-22). "Barako Bull opts to leave PBA". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
2. Phoenix needs PBA board's approval for purchase of Barako, GMA News Online, March 1, 2011
3. most-but-not-quite-no-phoenix-petroleum-in-pro-league-for-now Al most, but not quite: No Phoenix Petroleum in pro league — for now, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, March 29, 2011
4. Phoenix Petroleum’s PBA entry a big concern for San Miguel, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, March 14, 2011
5. Beltran, Nelson (2011-07-09). "Board okays Lina takeover of Barako, TV5 pact". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
6. Beltran, Nelson (2011-07-16). "Kings to ship Miller to Express for Canaleta". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
7. NLEX reaches deal to acquire Air 21 franchise, awaits league approval, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, June 23, 2014
8. PBA approval of Air21's sale to NLEX clears way for Joseph Yeo trade to Ginebra for draft pick, Snow Badua, spin.ph, June 26, 2014
9. Beltran, Nelson (19 January 2016). "Barako Bull, Phoenix agree on sale of PBA franchise". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
10. PBA Board OKs sale of Barako Bull, PBA.inquirer.net, January 20, 2016
11. Bracher, Jane (10 February 2016). "Phoenix to fuel PBA". Rappler.com. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
12. Saberon-Ablayan, Marianne (23 January 2016). "Phoenix, formerly Barako Bull, thrilled with new PBA beginning". Sun.Star. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
13. Beltran, Nelson (18 February 2016). "Fuel Masters smother Warriors in big debut". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 17 February 2016.