By J. Jala | 10:18 AM February 16, 2022
After 36 years, Alaska has announced that it will be leaving the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Team owner Fred Uytengsu made the shock announcement Wednesday morning.
“We thought long and hard before making this final decision,” Uytengsu said in a statement. “However, we believe that this will allow us to focus our resources on providing affordable nutrition for Filipino families.”
The Aces will play out their final conference in the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup.
Alaska joined the PBA in 1986. Over the years, they would be known as the Milkmen, the Hills Bros. Coffee Kings, and the Air Force, before switching to their current name, the Aces, in 2000.
They would become one of the most storied franchise in PBA history, winning 14 championships including a Grand Slam in the 1996 season.
Currently, the Aces have a 3-2 win-loss record in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup.