Phenom Bluefire, Off Campus Join Forces for Development

Phenom New Zealand Bluefire and Off Campus are joining forces, specifically for the 2027 National Basketball Training Center tournament, bringing together their player pools and coaching experience in a partnership that will also support the development of young basketball talent.

Phenom founder Anthony Brodett said that preparations have begun for the combined squad, which will compete under the Phenom New Zealand Bluefire x Off Campus banner. Coaches Mike Buendia, Jess Evangelio, and Jasper Magno will be part of the collaboration.

According to Brodett, half of Phenom’s 2026 players are expected to return. They will be joined by additions from Off Campus, Manila-based Phenom prospects, and Phenom Parola Panaon.

The partnership gives the programs an opportunity to build familiarity ahead of the national tournament while expanding the group of players they can train and field in competition.

“We will also enter Manila Live 18U for our younger guys in the program so the development doesn’t stop,” Brodett said.

Phenom has established a presence in youth basketball through its Championship Clinic, athlete management work, and tournament teams. Its clinic was publicly introduced in 2020 with an emphasis on fundamentals and physical preparation, drawing on coaches with experience in high school and collegiate basketball.

The program earned wider attention during the 2025 NBTC National Finals, when its Pasay-based squad became the first wildcard entry to reach the championship game. Led by now Blue Eagle Kieffer Alas, Phenom defeated teams including University of Southern Philippines Foundation and UST before falling to eventual champion Fil-Am Nation, 64–59, in the final.

That run demonstrated the team’s ability to compete with established programs, but it also exposed the challenges of assembling players from different schools. Brodett said afterward that scheduling conflicts had limited the group to just three full days of practice before its campaign.

Phenom subsequently partnered with Letran head coach Allen Ricardo’s Got Skills to broaden its talent identification and development efforts.

Off Campus brings a strong Davao connection to the collaboration.

Competing under the Off-Campus Residences x Toyomoto name, the club has fielded a core of Ateneo de Davao players alongside recruits from other schools. It entered the 2026 NBTC Mindanao regional tournament seeking a third consecutive regional crown under Evangelio.

Evangelio has been a central figure in the development of that group. Having coached at Ateneo de Davao since 2016, he led Davao Region to its first Palarong Pambansa secondary boys basketball gold in 2025, beating Western Visayas, 67–51, in the final.

Later that year, he coached the Philippine boys team to the ASEAN Schools Games championship in Brunei. The squad, composed of players from DAVRAA and Central Luzon, defeated Malaysia, 90–86, in overtime..

There is already a working relationship between Evangelio and Phenom. He coached its Under-19 and Under-23 teams at the 2026 Sinag Liga Asya Junior World Showcase, with Magno among his assistants.

Phenom New Zealand Bluefire won the U23 championship, defeating University of Cebu, 66–62, behind Finals MVP Mark Sarza and defensive standout Santi Romero.

Buendia adds experience from levels of Philippine basketball, including his longtime assistant-coaching role with Rain or Shine in the PBA, work with Letran, and a stint leading CEU’s juniors program.

Brodett is keeping expectations measured as that work begins.

“We will play one game at a time and hopefully we get the results we want.”