The 2002 FedEx Express season was the 1st season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Draft picks
RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege11Yancy De OcampoSaint Francis18Renren RitauloLa Salle Manila427John VictorioUNLV524Jerome BarbosaSan Sebastian Recoletos537Edrick FerrerUP Diliman639Francis Aquino74Paolo MalonzoNew Era
New team FEDEX-Airfreight 2100 buy out the Tanduay Rhum franchise before the 2002 PBA season started. Team Owner Bert Lina, emphasizing that his company is the biggest courier company in the world, aims to make a big splash in its initial season. The newest ballclub absorbed four players from the defunct Tanduay and went for the biggest catch by choosing 6–8 Yancy De Ocampo from the multi-titled PBL ballclub Welcoat House Paints as the number one overall pick in the 2002 PBA draft. FedEx also took in De Ocampo's Welcoat teammate Renren Ritualo at eight overall. Coach Derrick Pumaren, who was the last coach of Tanduay Rhum Masters, will handle the coaching job for FedEx.
Occurrences Former Tanduay forward Bong Hawkins was among those absorbed by FedEx during the off-season, but a controversy sparked when Hawkins wanted to have the same terms of the salary he had with Tanduay while the FedEx management wanted to negotiate a new contract. Hawkins was later shipped to his former team Alaska. The management pay him about Php 4.2 Million, even Hawkins was not playing for the FedEx in 2003.
Roster
Eliminations (Won games) Date Opponent Score Venue (Location) February 23 Shell 70–64 Cuneta Astrodome March 1 Sta.Lucia 93–83 Caruncho Gym (Pasig) March 10 Alaska 83–69 Ynares Center March 23 Brgy.Ginebra 79–78 Ynares Center April 5 Purefoods 89–75 Ynares Center April 11 RP-Hapee 75–71 Makati Coliseum June 29 Shell 93–84 Cuneta Astrodome July 13 RP-Selecta 94–87 Cuneta Astrodome July 25 Purefoods 85–76 Caruncho Gym (Pasig) August 2 Sta.Lucia 92–90 Philsports Arena August 6 Red Bull 92–90 Philsports Arena August 10 Brgy.Ginebra 107–91 Philsports Arena November 23 Sta.Lucia 90–83 Cuneta Astrodome
Transactions
Trades July 2002To FedEx Express Vergel MenesesTo Barangay Ginebra Kings Future draft picks
Additions PlayerSignedFormer teamPaul AlvarezOff-seasonMBAGido BabiloniaTalk 'N Text Phone PalsRyan BernardoFree agent (Drafted by Mobiline/TNT in 2001)Egay BillonesFree agent (Drafted by Ginebra in 2000)Danny Capobres(Pick by Talk 'N Text in the rookie draft)Jerry CodiñeraTalk 'N Text Phone PalsBiboy SimonMBA
Subtractions PlayerSignedNew teamPaul AlvarezMid-seasonTalk 'N Text Phone Pals
References