PBA Board approves sale of Barako Bull to Phoenix Petroleum

Out goes Barako Bull and in comes PBA newcomer Phoenix Petroleum.

The PBA Board on Wednesday “unanimously” approved the sale of the Energy franchise to Phoenix Petroleum during a meeting in the league’s headquarters in Libis, Quezon City.

PBA Chairman Robert Non said Phoenix representatives would be invited to its first regular Board meeting on Jan. 28 to inform them of the sale of the franchise Linaheim Services Inc. owns.

“The Board unanimously agreed that Phoenix Petroleum is financially capable of maintaining a team in the PBA,” Non said. “So the decision wasn’t difficult.”

Non added Barako Bull representative Manny Mendoza requested Wednesday’s meeting.

Phoenix need not wait for next season to play in the PBA as the Board gave the franchise the go signal to play in the Commissioner’s Cup as Phoenix absorbed the contracts of the current Barako players.

Not only will Phoenix Petroleum break into the PBA right away, it will also field a team in the PBA D-League which would start on Thursday.