SIGNED, sealed, and delivered.
There’s a new team on the PBA block and vowed to prove it’s no pushover.
Pureblends has officially taken over NorthPort’s franchise, with the team to carry the name Titan Ultra in the pro league’s 50th season set to kick off on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“For the composition of the team, I have to admit that we’re still young, but we have a complete line-up and we will give the strong teams a good fight without saying “Kuya.” Kami ay lalaban din,” Giant Risers governor Emilio Tiu said yesterday during the new season’s launch at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig. “We are very happy that we are formally accepted by the PBA. We waited for this event dahil ibang klase itong 50th (anniversary) ng PBA.
“Expected na when we join them (PBA), we will learn so many things and then we can also expand together with the league,” he added.
PBA treasurer and Phoenix governor Atty. Raymond Zorilla formally introduced the team.
“We’d like to announce to everyone formally that the Board of Governors has approved and accepted the purchase of Pureblends Corp. of the Northport franchise, and they will be entering the 50th season of the PBA,” Zorilla said. “They will be known as the Titan Ultra team. Their representative to the Board, whose nomination has likewise been accepted. Let me introduce governor Emilio Tiu as the representative of Pureblends to the PBA Board.”
Former Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel will call the shots for the crew that has veterans Calvin Abueva and Joshua Munzon, and new additions in Von Pessumal, Jeo Ambohot, and Aljun Melecio expected to lead the quintet.
Zorilla also said the buyout of the Batang Pier ball club lock, stock, and barrel by the firm owned by Bryann Calantoc was already in the bag early last month when the PBA held its annual planning in Las Vegas.
“It was approved in the annual meeting. They just have to comply with certain documentary requirements,” he said. “But between Northport na lang and Pureblends, signing na lang. It was merely a formality.”
