| Pbayear: | 2002 |
| Team: | FedEx Express (PBA Team) |
| Team2: | FedEx Express |
| Coach: | Derrick Pumaren |
| 1C-Name: | Governors' Cup |
| 1C-Wins: | 6 |
| 1C-Losses: | 6 |
| 1C-Place: | 5th seed |
| 1C-Playoffs: | QF (lost to Alaska) |
| 2C-Name: | Commissioner's Cup |
| 2C-Wins: | 7 |
| 2C-Losses: | 5 |
| 2C-Place: | 6th seed |
| 2C-Playoffs: | QF (lost to Alaska) |
| 3C-Name: | All-Filipino Cup |
| 3C-Wins: | 1 |
| 3C-Losses: | 8 |
| 3C-Place: | N/A |
| 3C-Playoffs: | N/A |
| Manager: | Lito Alvarez |
| Owners: | Bert Lina FedEx Philippines |
| Pol Team: | 3 |
The 2002 FedEx Express season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
See main article: 2002 PBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Yancy De Ocampo | Saint Francis | ||
| 1 | 8 | Renren Ritaulo | La Salle Manila | ||
| 4 | 27 | John Victorio | UNLV | ||
| 5 | 24 | Jerome Barbosa | San Sebastian Recoletos | ||
| 5 | 37 | Edrick Ferrer | UP Diliman | ||
| 6 | 39 | Francis Aquino | |||
| 7 | 4 | Paolo Malonzo | New Era |
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.[1] 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.
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.[2] The management pay him about Php 4.2 Million, even Hawkins was not playing for the FedEx in 2003.[3] [4] [5]
| Date | Opponent | Score | Venue (Location) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 23 | Shell | 70–64 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| March 1 | Sta.Lucia | 93–83 | Caruncho Gym (Pasig) [6] |
| 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 [7] |
| July 25 | Purefoods | 85–76 | Caruncho Gym (Pasig) |
| August 2 | Sta.Lucia | 92–90 | Philsports Arena |
| August 6 | Red Bull | 92–90 | Philsports Arena [8] |
| August 10 | Brgy.Ginebra | 107–91 | Philsports Arena |
| November 23 | Sta.Lucia | 90–83 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| July 2002 | To FedEx Express----Vergel Meneses | To Barangay Ginebra Kings----Future draft picks |
| Player | Signed | Former team |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Alvarez | Off-season | MBA |
| Gido Babilonia | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | |
| Ryan Bernardo | Free agent (Drafted by Mobiline/TNT in 2001) | |
| Egay Billones | Free agent (Drafted by Ginebra in 2000) | |
| Danny Capobres | (Pick by Talk 'N Text in the rookie draft) | |
| Jerry Codiñera | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | |
| Biboy Simon | MBA |