Phoenix Petroleum sets modest PBA target

Phoenix Fuel Masters during the press launch Wednesday. Photo by Randolph Leongson

Phoenix Petroleum, the newest kid on the Philippine Basketball Association block, has set a modest goal in the league: Make the quarterfinals.

The Fuel Masters debut in the Commissioner’s Cup against NLEX on Feb. 17.

Phoenix bought the Barako Bull franchise near the end of the Philippine Cup and retained the coaching staff led by Koy Banal and the core of an Energy team that performed well in the season-opening conference.

The team was formally unveiled in a formal launch yesterday at Novotel Hotel in Cubao.

Company president and CEO Dennis Uy and vice president Raymond Zorilla graced the occasion together with Banal and the nucleus of the squad headed by former Gilas Pilipinas shooting guard JC Intal.

Veterans Mick Pennisi, Josh Urbiztondo and Willy Wilson were also there together with RR Garcia, the Energy’s leading scorer before getting injured late in the eliminations of the Philippine Cup.

“We aim to be in the third to sixth spots which means a best-of-three quarterfinals. And we would take it from there,” said Banal.

“With hard work, good things come along,” said Intal.