HAVE we seen the last of Matthew Wright in the pro league?
Fuel Masters coach Topex Robinson said his prized wingman played his final game for the team in the PBA Philippine Cup last Saturday night.
“As of now, he honored his contract. It’s going to expire in August, and he was open to us about it,” Robinson said after his charges ripped Converge 89-66 to snap a five-game losing skid.
“Last year pa niya sinabi sa amin na he is going to look at his opportunities,” he added.
The 6-foot-4 Wright left the country for the United States last night for his wedding with long-time partner Gabriela Rosa next Sunday.
Phoenix will play its last eliminations match against Ginebra on Thursday, with the Fuel Masters having a slim chance of advancing to the quarterfinals of the import-less tourney with a 3-7 slate.
With his three-year contract also set to expire on Aug. 31 and a new pact yet to be inked, Wright might have suited up for Phoenix and the PBA for the last time.
But Wright admitted he is exploring his options, among them bringing his acts to the Japan B. League or linking up with a new team in the PBA.
Robinson said the Dennis Uy-owned ballclub will support whatever Wright’s decision would be.
“We are just happy for him. Whatever it is that he is going to do after this is something that we’d agreed upon,” Robinson said.
“The management has his full support. If he returns, it’s an added bonus for us.”
Wright scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and issued four assists in Phoenix’s win against the FiberXers and wound up with averages of 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for the Fuel Masters in 10 games.
The Fil-Canadian Wright, 31, was tabbed by Phoenix in the special draft in 2016 and has since became a Gilas Pilipinas national team mainstay.
He was named as part of the PBA Second Mythical Team last season.
Phoenix traded Nick Demusis, a 2022 first-round draft pick, and a second-round pick in 2023 to Rain or Shine for Javee Mocon before the start of the season-opening tilt in a move seen by armchair pundits as a preparation for the possible departure of Wright.
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 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.
