THE former PBA franchise known for its bruising and razzle-dazzle style of play, had its reunion on Friday in a night filled with nostalgia and good memories.
Three-time champion Red Bull got together in a fun-filled gathering hosted no less by its beloved coach Yeng Guiao.
From maiden franchise player Kerby Raymundo all the way to late entry Jeff Chan, the team had a grand time reminiscing the past from the time it barged into the PBA as an expansion franchise in 2000 until its sad and unfortunate sale to Phoenix in 2016.
"Sobrang saya. Ang daming kuwento, halos hindi matapos yung gabi," Chan shared with SPIN.ph.
READ: Let's retrace how birthday boy Yeng Guiao won his seven PBA titles
Aside from Chan and Raymundo also around were two-time MVP Willie Miller, Larry Fonacier, Carlo Sharma, Celino Cruz, Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela, Cyrus Baguio, Enrico Villanueva, and Guiao's former deputy Gee Abanilla.
Raymundo, Valenzuela, and Tugade were all part of the original six-man player that elevated from its champion PBL franchise all the way to the PBA.
Ironically, Guiao was PBL Commissioner back then, but was eventually convinced by former Photokina owner George Chua to handle the young team in its rookie season in Asia's pioneering pro league.
Living by its mantra 'Ang Bumangga, Giba,' the team added the likes of Miller, Villanueva, Fonacier, Baguio, Sharma, Cruz, and Chan later on and built a team that consistently contended for both the playoffs and championships.
In the course of the franchise run, Red Bull won three championships, the last of which came in the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference.
The team made its exit in 2011 with the sale of the franchise to the Lina Group of Companies.
Chan said the Red Bull reunion was made possible by Guiao's daughter Niner, who painstakingly reached out to former Red Bull players who suited up for his father.
There were other players who also failed to attend.
"Si Bugs (Paolo Bugia) dapat hahabol, kaso nagka-emergency meeting sila dahil natalo yung team," said Chan, referring to the current Phoenix team manager as the Fuel Masters absorbed a 106-70 beating against TNT in the Commissioner's Cup
"Yung iba naman nasa probinsiya."
But there's hope for every one the reunion would be an annual gathering for the others to join and together reminiscent with the past.
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