A Welcoat primer

Welcoat is hoping to make a big opening statement in its first season in the PBA. The most successful franchise in the Philippine Basketball League is making the big leap to the pros, and the timing was perfect. Over the years, the Welbest franchise—whose owners are actually avid players of the game—have been blessed with good timing.

"We started organized basketball in the PBL in 1996," recalls team owner Raymond Yu. "One day, I got a call from my partner, Terry Que, and there was a franchise up for sale. It was the PARTAS franchise of Gov. Chavit Singson. That’s how it started."

Soon, it became an almost predictable pattern that Welcoat would be in the finals. Despite having to constantly rebuild—while being handicapped by their own success—the Paintmasters always found a way to come out on top.

"We just always try to look for the best talent available," Yu says. "It may not come from the draft, because we were always last in the draft, weren’t we? So we would look for free agents, we would look for ex-pros, and just try to have a good, balanced line-up."

When Shell’s franchise was up for sale, it was also the time that Yu and Que were thinking about their next step. Making it to the championship had become an expectation, and anything less was seen as an insufficient accomplishment. And besides, they had been in the league for a long time. Considering the impact their exposure in the PBL had made on their business, Welbest made the leap. It made good business sense.

"When we started winning championships in the PBL, the name recall of the brand improved. We’re just betting, assuming that PBA will help us generate bigger sales. Against our competitors, it helps us differentiate our product from what is available in the market. So in that sense, we become better known."

As a new PBA member, the Welbest franchise will be drafting tenth and eleventh, which may not allow them to get a quality big man. They were, however, allowed to retain three players from their 2005 line-up. Management decided to elevate 6’8" JR Reyes, 6’5" Jay Sagad and 6’5" Junjun Cabatu, who will not have to go through the rookie draft. Their 6’9" center, Samigue Eman will most probably stay in the PBL for one more year. Welcoat will still keep its PBL membership. Fortunately, some of their current players are also free agents.

"Number one, I think we have to come out with a competitive line-up. Given the conditions, it’s going to be a tall order. So again, we have to scout for good free agents. I see a lot of good free agents. You have guys like Froilan Baguion, Al Magpayo, Alwyn Espiritu, and other free agents."

Having made a five-year commitment to the PBA, Welcoat is looking at a rapid formula for success. They know it isn’t going to be easy. Perhaps they might want to look at the history of Purefoods, which entered the league in 1988, and was similarly allowed to bring in four members of the Philippine team: Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Jojo Lastimosa and Glen Capacio. Those four made the young squad a permanent fixture in the All-Filipino right off the bat. Yu says being a newcomer may also catch the other teams by surprise.

"Well, the fact that we’re going to start from scratch is an advantage, he adds. "You can say that it’s a disadvantage, but it’s also an advantage. We can work backwards. What kind of a team do we want? Do we want speed? If that’s what we want, we can tailor the type of players we get. Probably, we will go for young players, quick players, because I don’t think we can get a dominant post-up guy right now."

Though they have said they will be sporting a new moniker in the PBA, there are indications it may be a powerful mythical creature that ties in to the family hearitage, the team’s intended style of play. There are also other moves in the works to raise the competitiveness of the team.

"One of the things that we’re considering is to really get a good trainer, and a shooting coach. We haven’t decided on which coach to get. But we feel that we have to have a high free throw percentage. We’re going to play fast, so we’ll be fouled a lot. Like the Phoenix Suns."

Welcoat is hoping that, like its paints, it quickly lays a lasting, shining, colorful sheen to its stay in the PBA.

"Just like in the PBL, we will always try to win. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait that long to get our first championship."

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Catch the PBA Finals and NBA Madness on The Basketball Show, tomorrow at 3 p.m. over RPN 9.