MANILA, Philippines - Mula sa pagiging Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs sa paglahok sa Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) noong 1988 hanggang sa paggamit ng pangalan na B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados ngayong 2010.
Simula sa darating na 2009-2010 PBA Fiesta Conference ay ipaparada na ng San Miguel-Pure Foods Company ang nasabing brand name.
“We believe that our B-MEG brand will benefit from the tremendous exposure PBA gave to the Purefoods TJ Giants,” ani San Miguel Pure Foods Company president Butch Alejo.
Ang B-MEG ang ‘flagship’ brand ng San Miguel Pure Foods’ feeds business at sister company ng Purefoods.
Hangad ng SMC franchise na maipakilala ang naturang produkto matapos magkampeon ang mga Giants sa nakaraang PBA Philippine Conference kung saan nila winalis ang Alaska Aces, 4-0, sa kanilang best-of-seven championship series.
Ang mga Giants ay tatawagin na ngayong Llamados.
“The monicker llamados in itself also carries a badge of expectations which I am sure my players would be very enthusiastic about,” wika ni coach Ryan Gregorio. “In this line, we pledge anew to make San Miguel Foods, Inc. and our many fans to play our best and with our hearts out in every game. We will be your llamados through and through.”
Ang four-time PBA Most Valuable Player awardee na si Alvin Patrimonio ang siya pa ring tatayong team manager ng B-Meg.
Walong kampeonato ang nakuha ng Purefoods sapul nang sumali sa PBA noong 1988 kung saan sila nagpapalit-palit ng pangalan mula sa Coney Island Ice Cream Stars (Purefoods Oodles), Purefoods Chunkee Giants hanggang sa Purefoods TJ Giants noong 2007.
Muling babanderahan nina James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Roger Yap, Marc Pingris, Paul Artadi, PJ Simon, Chris Timberlake, Jonathan Fernandez, Jondan Salvador, Nino Canaleta, Rafi Reavis, Don Allado at Romel Adducul ang Llamados.