Encho Serrano is leaving the Philippine Basketball Association for now.
The athletic 6-foot guard bid farewell to Phoenix Super LPG on Tuesday with his teammates saying their goodbyes and best wishes to him.
Multiple sources within the team made the confirmation to Tiebreaker Times.
This ends Serrano’s one-year stay with the Fuel Masters.
During the 2022 PBA Rookie Draft, Phoenix selected Serrano as the 19th overall pick — a steal by all accounts.
In 34 games played last season, the 24-year-old guard out of Apalit, Pampanga averaged 10.32 points, 3.68 rebounds, and 1.88 assists — including norms of 11.83 points, 4.25 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the Governors’ Cup.
He was only given a one-year deal last year.
Now, he is set to reunite with Gov. Delta Pineda in the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
It can be recalled that it was just two years ago when Serrano carried Pampanga to the 2021 National Basketball League-Pilipinas crown. The team was also coached by Pineda.
The Giant Lanterns are currently 8-0 this season.
This will also mark Serrano’s return to the MPBL after steering Basilan-Jumbo Plastic to the top in the 2021 Invitationals.
