Sources: Phoenix removes Wilson, considers Tiu, Ayo as next coach

Phoenix appears set for another coaching reset, with sources indicating that Willy Wilson has been removed as head coach of the Fuel Masters after just one conference in charge.

Wilson was appointed earlier this year as Phoenix’s lead man heading into PBA Season 50, tasked with stabilizing a franchise that has cycled through several coaching changes over the past few seasons. His stint, however, was brief. Despite publicly framing the Philippine Cup as a transition phase, sources say the organization has already decided to move in a different direction, cutting his tenure short after only a single conference on the bench.

With Wilson out, Phoenix is now exploring replacements, and two familiar names have emerged as options: Charles Tiu and Aldin Ayo. According to sources, the team is open to multiple configurations, including the possibility of naming one as head coach and the other as lead assistant, depending on availability and alignment with management’s long-term plans.

Tiu, who turned 37 on Sunday, has built a reputation as one of the more analytically inclined young coaches in Philippine basketball. He is currently the head coach of the CSB Blazers, where he led the program to multiple deep playoff runs and helped establish Benilde as a consistent contender in the NCAA.

Tiu has also coached Strong Group Athletics in international club competitions, gaining exposure against foreign professional teams. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Converge FiberXers, but stepped away from that role to focus on his collegiate program and other commitments. Should Tiu accept the Phoenix head coaching job, it would likely signal the end of his tenure with Benilde, marking a full-time return to the professional ranks.

Ayo, meanwhile, brings a very different profile. He rose to prominence at the collegiate level by popularizing his pressure-heavy “mayhem” system, first with Letran and De La Salle University – where he won championships – and later with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, where he made the UAAP finals in 2019. Ayo transitioned to the PBA with the Converge FiberXers, initially helping shape the franchise’s identity before being elevated to head coach. His tenure with Converge ended in August 2024, when the team parted ways with him following on-court struggles. Since then, Ayo has not held a major coaching post, though his name has consistently surfaced in coaching speculation across multiple leagues.

The Fuel Masters have struggled to establish continuity since entering the league, often reshuffling leadership in search of a competitive breakthrough.

The next hire will signal how the franchise plans to redefine itself after another abrupt change at the top.

As of now, the team has not made any public announcement regarding Wilson’s removal or his successor, but developments are expected to move quickly as Phoenix prepares for the next conference.

Wilson, who is well-respected in basketball circles, should be back on a team’s bench sooner than later.