12 August 2010

Re-evaluation of this BLOG is On-Going

Goodbye SLR!
This blog (staluciarealtors.blogspot.com) will be undergoing some changes very soon. Since the Sta. Lucia Realtors has finally called it quits and the franchise now sold to Meralco, there is no point in trying to maintain the intent to which this blog was created.

An economic crunch and the fact that its real estate business doesn't fit into the marketing possibilities associated with the professional basketball league was the main reason why the Realtors will not be joining the Philippine basketball Association in its 2010-2011 season.

Negotiations between the Realtors and the Merlaco management has already concluded with the final installment paid for by the Realtors owners headed by Exequiel Robles.

Sta Lucia had remained in the PBA since 1993 when Robles and team manager and former PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado who are both passionate followers of basketball and players themselves acquired the franchise from Universal Robina Corporation, one of the founding members of the PBA in 1993. UFC had won six PBA championships with Great Taste Coffee strining together four championhips in an unprecedented run and Presto Tivol Ice Cream.

Sta. Lucia's contribution to basketball dates back to the the 1980's in the Philippine Basketball League where gangling center Marlou Aquino was one of their stars and still remains with the Sta. Lucia squad coached by Boyet Fernandez.

Sta Lucia's last championship, its second in the PBA, was when the team won the 2007 Philippine Cup beating the fancied Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in a seven game series in which Dennis Espino was named Finals MVP andhigh-flying Kelly Williams emerged as the league's Most Valuable Player.

It soon became apparent that Sta Lucia was trading its key players because of financial problems in maintaining a top-class competitive team and rather than tarnish its reputation as a leading PBA ballclub the owners decided to sell its franchise with Meralco a ready and willing buyer.

It is not yet certain though if this blog will shift its allegiance to Meralco or to another underrated, but hard-working team, in the PBA. Meralco, though, seems a very attractive prospect since they were described as a team with "pedigree". They are also expected to fire the imagination of basketball fans as the hardcourt rivalry between teams owned by San Miguel Corporation and businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan appears to be heating up.

So better watch out in the next succeeding days if this blog will be sporting the new logo of Meralco or any teams in the PBA.

In the meantime, we would like to thank everyone who shared the same passion that we have with the hard-fighting Sta. Lucia Realtors and we hope to continue to get your support when we express our support to another team in the PBA.

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