NOTHING is cast in stone yet, but Matthew Wright already approached management of Phoenix for a sit-down talk and possibly, a return stint with the Fuel Masters in the PBA Season 50.
Team manager Paolo Bugia disclosed the Fil-Canadian gunner hit him up just before the Philippine Cup opener asking a meeting with the team.
“He messaged me a few days ago [and] wanted to sit down and talk,” said Bugia on the sidelines of Friday night’s game between Magnolia and Titan at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ Jamie Malonzo's B.League contract terminated by Kyoto Hannaryz
“Nothing too concrete, Ano lang nag-reach out siya and asked if we could have coffee. So sabi ko, 'Okay, we’ll schedule something.'”
Wright, 34, previously played with the Kawasaki Braves in the Japan B.League, but skipped the new season to come home and take care of his ailing mother.
He went to Japan in 2022 and played two seasons for the Kyoto Hannaryz before transferring to the Braves for the 2024-25 season.
COLUMN: Matthew Wright to return to PH as he skips B.League season
Prior to taking his act overseas, Wright was the main guy at Phoenix and nearly guided the franchise to a first-ever finals appearance during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark, Pampanga.
That same conference Wright contended for the Best Player of the Conference award, which Stanley Pringle – then with Barangay Ginebra – eventually won.
In six seasons with the Fuelmasters, who selected him during the 2016 special draft, the former Gilas Pilipinas player averaged 17.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Apparently, Wright wants to relive those years with Phoenix.
Bugia said he’ll try to clear things out with Wright first about his status in the B.League.
“I’m not sure yet what his status is with Japan in terms of technicality and contract. Mag-uusap pa kami. But he said he wants to have coffee,” said the former PBA player turned team executive.
“Hindi naman siya nagmamadali. I think he wants to meet with the Boss (team owner Dennis Uy).”
Bugia said the back-to-back games of Phoenix last week got in the way of a possible sit-down talk with the team’s former gunner.
“Open naman kami and he’s open as well. So we’ll meet soon and from there, let’s see how it goes,” he added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
