Welcoat Paints takes leave of absence from PBL

Welcoat Paints, a dynasty for the last three seasons, has formally filed an indefinite leave of absence in the Philippine Basketball League but the amateur league has indicated it will not be affected by the sudden move.

"Yes, Welcoat will not be around this year but I’m glad to say we already have a new team to fill the vacuum left by them," said newly re-elected PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy of Blu Detergents.

Sy confirmed to The STAR that the league has accepted Sen. John Osmeña’s group as its newest member, filling the slot left by Welcoat and ensuring the PBL of an ideal eight-team cast in the league’s season-opening President’s Cup set on March 15.

The DSS Productmakers, Inc. executive, whose company owned Shark and Blu, said that Osmeña has yet to decide what company he will use but was informed that the latter would field in a team using the core of the National University roster coached by last year’s UAAP sensation Manny Dandan.

Welcoat team manager Dennis De Guzman said they filed for a leave of absence because it lost several key players, vital cogs in the Paint Masters four PBL championships , to the Philippine Basketball Association and the Metropolitan Basketball Association. — Joey Villar