By REYNALD MAGALLON
Phoenix has named Willie Wilson as its new head coach for the upcoming PBA 50th season while former coach Jamike Jarin was elevated to a team consultant role.
The Fuel Masters made the announcement on Friday, Aug. 15.
“Management believes that coach Willy will be a good fit for the team as it continues to pursue more success in Season 50,” said the team in a statement.
“His experience both as a PBA player and coach will be an instrumental tool as he steers the best out of the Fuel Masters in the coming season,” the team added.
It will be the first foray of Wilson to the head coaching role since becoming an assistant to then-Fuel Masters top tactician Topex Robinson in 2018. He played for 15 years in the PBA – the last three of which he spent with Phoenix as a player.
He was once the head coach of the team’s PBA 3×3 squad.
With Wilson at the helm, Phoenix is hoping to get over the hump after missing the playoffs in all of the three conferences in the league’s 49th season. The Fuel Masters wound up with a lackluster 8-25 win-loss record last year despite having a lineup that is young and brimming with talent.
