Intact roster for Phoenix

Phoenix Petroleum, the newest member of the Philippine Basketball Association, will keep the core of the Barako Bull squad and its coaching staff intact when they debut in the Commissioner’s Cup that will open on Feb. 10.

A few days after buying the Barako Bull franchise, Phoenix official Atty. Raymond Zorilla disclosed that it is “status quo” right now because of the very limited time they have left to prepare for the second conference of the season.

Barako Bull made it to the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Cup despite a shoulder injury to RR Garcia.

“We want immediate results, of course,” Zorilla said. “But right now, with the very limited time that we have to prepare, we will make do with what we have.”

Phoenix, like 10 others in the 12-team field, will be allowed to bring in an import standing no more than 6-foot-9.

Only Mahindra, a second-year team which failed to make it past the eliminations like Meralco, will be afforded a reinforcement of unlimited height.

Zorilla also said that there will be no trades as of the moment as far as their players are concerned.

“We are new in this endeavor,” Zorilla said. “We don’t want to rock the boat.”

Phoenix is keeping coach Koy Banal and his staff, with Zorilla pointing out the accomplishments of Banal in the college ranks and in his short tenure as Barako Bull coach.

Banal managed to make the Energy a formidable force in the Philippine Cup even if they played with just one legitimate center, veteran Mick Pennisi, all tournament long.

JC Intal, Garcia and the resurgent Willie Wilson carried much of the scoring load for the Energy in the Philippine Cup, with Wilson even going on to become a candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award.

Incidentally, the BPC award will be handed out before Game 4 of the on-going best-of-seven title series between the Beermen and Alaska, with the injured Fajardo expected to run away with the award.

The fourth game is slated at 5 p.m. tomorrow at PhilSports Arena in Pasig.