Blustar disbands; Jewels win

Following a disappointing finish in the PBL Unity Cup, the Blustar Detergent management yesterday disbanded the team in hopes of forming a new one that could figure prominently in the league’s next conference late this year.

Dioceldo Sy, president of DSS Productmakers, Inc. which owns the Detergent Kings, made the announcement after his team bowed out of the quarterfinals following a 49-55 loss to defending champion Hapee Toothpaste Saturday at the Letran Gym.

"The whole team is disbanded for the meantime but we will keep our options open. We will decide by September if we would be returning next conference," Sy, the league’s fifth term chairman, told The STAR.

Sy explained he is planning to adopt a new collegiate team either from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and then start from there. He didn’t elaborate.

"We’ll take a good look at the NCAA and the UAAP and maybe we’ll get a team there and form a new one next conference. Nothing is sure yet, it’s still up in the air," he added.

This means that the coaching staff, headed by Leo Isaac, and the players among them Eric dela Cuesta, Jam Alfad, Allan Gamboa, Fil-Am rookie Aki Aquino, Nino Canaleta and Roland Pascual will be without a team in the coming months.

Sy’s decision also stemmed from his team’s failure to win a championship since it entered the league in 1998.

The closest the franchise got from winning a title was two years ago when it lost to Ateneo-Nenaco in four games in the first conference finals. It also placed third five times, including in last year’s Platinum Cup ruled by Hapee with Welcoat Paints as runner-up.

"Cost is a major concern, it’s one of reasons why we disbanded the team," Sy explained.

Meanwhile, Montana Pawnshop and Toyota Otis-Letran extended the league to another playdate as the two collide in a do-or-die playoff for the last semifinal round berth tomorrow at the Pasig Sports Center.

Drawing huge games from the troika of Jon Dan Salvador, Al Magpayo and Froilan Baguion, the Jewels smashed the Knights, 71-60, to stay alive.

Viva-FEU and Welcoat have clinched outright semis slots by finishing first and second after the eliminations with 9-1 and 6-4 (win-loss) records, respectively, while Hapee gained a berth by beating Blustar.