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| ABL (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Phoenix continued on shaking off their old Barako Bull image by replacing their head coach and giving away one of their seldom-used players.
The Fuel Masters announced on Tuesday that Malaysia Dragons coach Ariel Vanguardia will take over Koy Banal as their chief gaffer.
Alternate Governor Raymond Zorilla, in an interview with the league's website, explained that the said development is part of a "long term plan of building an exciting and new team which is likewise in line with the marketing programs of the company."
Meanwhile, Phoenix got John Wilson from NLEX for James Forrester in a trade approved by Commissioner Chito Narvasa also on Tuesday.
The said trade set up a reunion between Wilson and Vanguardia at the Fuel Masters side a few years after becoming a coach-star player tandem at JRU.
Under Vanguardia's tutelage, Wilson became the King Bomber for the NCAA squad, setting the second-best scoring output in league history with 48 points in a 95-85 win over the CSB Blazers on Aug. 26, 2009.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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