CHICAGO - For the past five years, Family's Brand Sardines has been one of the most popular teams in the MPBL, a model franchise with a vast following,
But despite a stout budget, P3 million a month, sources told me, the sardines giant failed to advance beyond the first round of this year's playoffs, falling to underdog Paranaque in three games.
The crushing disappointment has led to a frenzy of rumors about FBS taking a leave of absence from the league.
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Not true, and definitely nothing is final, said a team source who revealed that the owner, madam Anita Kaw, is still out of the country.
The idea of halting operations is impossible to digest given that FBS basketball is a huge part in the fabric of countless Zamboanguenos lives.
EMPTY CANS MAKE A LOT OF NOISE.
To the contrary, FBS is far from idle. Quietly, the groundwork for a major rebuild is being laid in hopes of finally winning a championship after a Cinderella finish in 2022.
With their remake beginning at the top, Family's Brand Sardines is pursuing the charismatic Aldin Ayo to be their next head coach. Louie Alas' contract, along with those of the 20 players on the roster, expires this December 31.
Ayo isn't just a hope giver, he is actually a championship provider, a master planner. Hiring him would require more than what Alas (plus the pay of two assistants) was reportedly getting.
But money is not an issue.
Kaw is the billionaire president of the Universal Group of Companies whose subsidiary, Universal Canning Incorporated, has exported sardines around the world since 2005.
AYO SPEAKS
Reached by telephone, coach Ayo wouldn't go into detail but briefly said, "it will be a privilege to be a part of a great organization."
Ayo is also being pursued by a few other MPBL teams and at least one UAAP team.
Family's Brand Sardines made waves in February 2022 when it attempted to acquire Alaska's PBA franchise. At that time, Master Sardines, which is under the umbrella of FBS, was a guest team in the PBA's 3x3 tournament.
If a deal is reached to acquire Ayo, Family's Brand Sardines has one player in mind for the former La Salle, Letran, UST and Converge coach to build around.
Christian Standhardinger.
MPBL sources told me that multiple teams, "marami na," are eyeing the services of C-Stan, who recently retired from the PBA. Family's Brand is willing to fork up to P1.2 million a month to lure C-Stan.
Once the Fil-German's contract with Terrafirma expires at the end of the month, there is no legal impediment that prevents him from playing in the MPBL.
Ayo plus C-Stan equals MPBL crown for Family's Brand Sardines.
It's the simple math of a winning formula.
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