CHICAGO - Like neon light bulbs glowing on a starless night, the signs of a regime change within the Phoenix Fuel Masters are unmistakable.
But amid a high-profile coaching switch and a massive, sweeping roster change, the only knot missing to tie the mystery together is an official confirmation from the team.
READ RR Garcia, Manganti become free agents as Phoenix shakeup begins
Moves and gestures, however, can be deceiving, which may well be the case here.
"Boss Dennis (Uy) is still very active with the team. He regularly speaks with my boss, Atty. (Raymond) Zorilla about the status of the team and we always run updates and decisions through him as well," Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia told me in a text message.
In recent weeks, rumors have surfaced that wealthy Davao businessman Glenn Escandor is reportedly taking over ownership at Phoenix.
NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.
"I'm not aware of any official word and statement on the matter," Bugia added.
At last night's No Cooking Show podcast anchored by my good friend Snow Badua, SPIN.ph editor Dodo Catacutan explained that a leave of absence, ownership change, or lease of a franchise are not allowed without the requisite due diligence from the league and the approval from the PBA board.
And with an upcoming conference set to start in early March, there is simply no time for any organization attempting an ownership change.
Badua clarified there is no hate toward or intent to bash Phoenix, saying only that the Fuel Masters need to be honest and transparent to their fan base.
The rumored takeover or alleged financial backing of Glenn Escandor adds a layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama because his son, Francis Escandor, plays for Phoenix.
UNFAIR.
This has bred speculations that the young Escandor will now become a centerpiece of the franchise.
That and suggestions of favoritism are not fair.
A 6-foot-2 guard who played college ball at La Salle, Francis suited up for SGA in Dubai and got drafted in the PBA on his own merit.
Under new head coach Charles Tiu, Francis' usage and playing time will be earned, not given.
Social media has labelled Francis a rich kid. You can't control what people think and say, you can only hope they'd be decent enough to give Francis a chance to prove he belongs in the PBA.
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