Phoenix taps Brandone Francis ahead of battle against Blackwater

Phoenix Fuel Masters tapped the services of the dead-shot wingman from the Dominican Republic Brandone Francis to be their replacement import in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.

Francis will begin his PBA journey when Phoenix faces the George King and the Blackwater Bossing on September 3 in the first game of the doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The longtime import for Prawira Harum Bandung in the Indonesia Basketball League or IBL who helped the team win a title last year, will replace Jayveous McKinnis as the Fuel Masters reinforcement.

Supposedly, Le’Bryan Nash will be the one to replace McKinnis but he was ruled ineligible as he went over the 6-foot-6 height limit. He was measured 6’6” ⅜ by the league.

Francis in town was listed 6-foot-4 in the IBL, the reason why Phoenix team is confident that he will make the cut even though he will just be measured at the PBA office a few hours before their 5:00 pm game.

The new import might be familiar with some of the PBA’s current young guns as the now 29-year-old Dominican guard played against Gilas Pilipinas in the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Serbia.

Now, the Dominican Republic men’s team stalwart is joining a Fuel Masters side hoping to get its first win of the conference as it is currently 0-3 in Group B.