WITH his three-year contract set to expire next month, Matthew Wright, Phoenix’s main man, is weighing his options — to remain with the Fuel Masters or bring his act overseas.
“Ang alam ko nag-uusap si Matthew and si Mr. Dennis Uy (Phoenix team owner), inaayos iyong kontrata, kung ano ang plano kay Matthew,” a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
It’s a wait-and-see scenario, according to the source, adding Wright could be Japan-bound.
“Hindi ko alam kung lalo bang luminaw o lalong lumabo ang usapan,” the source said.
The 6-foot-4 Wright is second in scoring for the Topex Robinson-mentored Fuel Masters with 14.2 points, to go with 4.1 rebounds, and a team-best 6.2 assists in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Phoenix has so far struggled in the season-opening tourney with a 2-5 card in tie with NorthPort and newcomer Converge.
Wright, 31, a Fil-Canadian, was tabbed by the Fuel Masters in a special draft in 2016 and has since become a Gilas Pilipinas national team mainstay. He was also named a member of the PBA Second Mythical Team last season.
Phoenix traded Nick Demusis, its 2022 first-round draft pick, and a second-round pick in 2023 to Rain or Shine for Javee Mocon before the start of the import-less tilt in a move seen by armchair pundits as part of preparations for the possible departure of Wright, but Robinson disagreed.
Several amateur standouts and even pros have chosen greener pastures the past two years.
The likes of brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr, Kobe Paras, Dwight Ramos, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Kemark Cariño, and Matthew Aquino have played in the fledgling Japan B. League.
Jordan Heading and Jason Brickman also saw action in Taiwan, while 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto tried his luck in the last NBA rookie draft after a one-season stint with Adelaide in the National Basketball League of Australia.
