San Mig Super Coffee Mixers make way for Purefoods Star Hotshots
The franchise that gained popularity through the exploits of Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera will once against use its own name. It was announced on Wednesday that the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers will use the name Purefoods Star Hotshots in the upcoming 40th Season of the PBA.
The Hotshots will debut against an old foe in the Alaska Aces on October 22 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The franchise was called the Purefoods Hotdogs when they first joined the PBA in 1988 as an expansion team with Patrimonio, Codinera, Jojo Lastimosa, and Glen Capacio as direct hires from the amateur league.
They have won 13 championships in 27 stints in the PBA Finals. In their storied history, Purefoods developed rivalries against Alaska, San Miguel Beer, and more popularly Ginebra in what has become to be known as Manila Clasico.
They later on turned into the TJ Hotdogs. The team also carried the name of multiple products by the same company as they became the Oodles, the Corned Beef Cowboys, the Carne Norte Beefies, and the Chunkee Giants. In 1993 and 1994, they were also called the Coney Island Ice Cream Stars.
In 2011, they dropped the Purefoods name and turned into the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados before settling into the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.
After winning their Grand Slam in the 39th Season of the PBA, the franchise will once again carry the Purefoods name.
They followed suit from the San Miguel Beermen who returned to their popular team name after being called the Petron Blaze Boosters for a few years.
Aside from this, Purefoods legends Codinera and Rey Evangelista are also set to have their jerseys retired by the franchise in the upcoming season in celebration of their Grand Slam.
