Purefoods makes PBA comeback, San Mig out

Purefoods, one of the most glamorous teams that ever played in the PBA, will make a comeback when the league opens its 40th Season on Sunday.

Taking over from Grand Slam champion San Mig Coffee, Purefoods will make a long-awaited return to the league since its holding company, San Miguel Corp., changed its name to the Derby Ace Llamados in 2009.

Name changes in the PBA happen all the time, with companies publicly pushing their other products to gain awareness in the market. Purefoods also played as B-Meg and then later on as San Mig Coffee.

Last season, San Miguel Beer, the oldest name in the PBA, made a comeback after playing as Petron Blaze for several years.

Purefoods was where Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera, members of the 25 Greatest Players, started their careers and their teams had some very memorable battles—and victories—against some of the leading teams in the league then.

To be known starting this season as the Star Hotshots, Purefoods still has one of the most solid cores in the league built around James Yap, a former two-time MVP, and national team standout Marc Pingris.