What's in a name? Shopinas to use Air21 brand next conference

The Shopinas.com Clickers will be playing next conference under the Air21 brand name.   The PBA office confirmed the change earlier today to GMA News, with a formal announcement to be made later within the day.   The Shopinas.com Clickers team was born from the sale of the Barako Bull Energy Boosters franchise by their owner, Energy Food and Drinks Inc., to the Lina Group of Companies, last June 2011.   The team had been in limbo under their previous owner, having been on leave since the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup. In July of 2011, the team was rebranded to its current name, with Shiela Lina named as the franchise's representative to the PBA board of governors.   Due to a provision included in the aforementioned sale, Shopinas.com's sister team, the Air21 Express, adopted the Red Bull brand name, entering the 37th PBA Philippine Cup as the Barako Bull Energy.   The Clickers went 0-14 in the league's All-Filipino conference, owing to a rookie-laden line-up and first-time PBA head coach Franz Pumaren. — JVP