WELCOME BACK PUREFOODS
Purefoods is back.
A brand carried by the Purefoods San Miguel Food franchise in winning seven titles, Purefoods makes its way back to the Philippine Basketball Association in Season 40, with its new line of products to be promoted by James Yap and his teammates.
Yap and company will be known as the Purefoods Star Hotshots as they seek to sustain a great run the team made under the San Mig Coffee banner.
Purefoods president Butch Alejo announced the name change in an elaborate ceremony at the Mega Tent Events Place in Libis, Quezon City to the roaring approval of their fans, supporters and business partners.
“We have new products under the Purefoods Star brand. We’re promoting these,” said Rene Pardo, the team’s representative to the PBA Board.
“Saka swerte kami kapag nagpapalit ng pangalan. Every time we carry a new name, we immediately win a championship or at least make the Finals,” Pardo noted.
“Nothing changes except the name. On the court, the team will always be there dishing out its best,” said team manager Alvin Patrimonio.
“I’ll miss San Mig Coffee but I’m so excited to play for Purefoods – the brand we carried when I joined the team,” said Yap.
With a possible shot at a fifth straight championship, coach Tim Cone would not put pressure on his team.
“We’ll not be goal-oriented, but ‘growth-oriented,’” said Cone, pointing out they want each of their players to improve.
They put in the shelves their San Mig Coffee Mixers jersey after winning a “four-peat” for the franchise in the last Governors’ Cup.
The franchise started out in the league in 1988 as the Purefoods Hotdogs, becoming an instant hit with a mix including celebrated playing coach Ramon Fernandez, former MVP Freddie Hubalde and prized amateur recruits Jerry Codinera, Jojo Lastimosa, Glenn Capacio and Jack Tanuan.
The team glowed even more with the entry of Alvin Patrimonio, Nelson Asaytono and Dindo Pumaren later.
Under the Purefoods banner, Patrimonio and the gang collected seven titles, making the team among the most prominent in the 90s.
Legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan copped the last of his 15 PBA titles and the very first for Purefoods in a come-from-behind 3-2 titular series win over Alaska Milk in the 1990 Third Conference.
Purefoods, under the late Ely Capacio, ruled the succeeding All-Filipino tourney. And then Chot Reyes, Eric Altamirano and Ryan Gregorio had their turns winning a championship with the brand that was already so famous and well loved then.
The team has carried under brands such as Coney Island, Oodles, B-Meg Derby Ace and San Mig Coffee, but will forever be most identified as Purefoods. (SB)
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