Mahindra Floodbuster

Updated on Oct 20, 2023

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Joined PBA 2014 Head coach Manny Pacquiao		Owner(s) Jose C. Alvarez Founded 2014

Team colors Red, Black, White, Gray Company Columbian Autocar Corporation Board governor Tomas C. Alvarez Demosthenes Rosales (alternate) Bienvenido Santos (alternate) Team manager Eric Pineda Joe Ramos (assistant)

The Mahindra Floodbuster are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team is owned by Columbian Autocar Corporation, the exclusive distributor of Mahindra and Kia automobiles in the Philippines.

Mahindra Floodbuster Mahindra Enforcer 39Floodbuster39 launched in the Philippines

History

Mahindra Floodbuster Mahindra Enforcer 39Floodbuster39 Launched In Philippines DriveSpark

On April 10, 2014, Columbian Autocar Corporation, along with Manila North Tollways Corporation (NLEX Road Warriors) and Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. (Blackwater Elite) were approved by the PBA Board of Governors to become expansion teams for the 2014–15 PBA season. Upon entry to the PBA, the three teams will select players from a dispersal draft in July consisting of unprotected current PBA players and free agents. They will also get to pick rookies in the 2014 PBA draft in August. On June 9, 2014, the team held a press conference, announcing that boxer Manny Pacquiao will coach their team in the 2014–15 season. After announcing his intentions to join the draft, Pacquiao got picked 11th overall in the first round by the KIA team, thus becoming a playing coach.

A naming contest was held to determine the team's moniker or name. On August 24, 2014, hours after the 2014 PBA draft, Columbian Autocar Corporation president Ginia Domingo announced that they would take the moniker "Sorento", the name of their top-selling sports utility vehicle in the Philippines and United States. Prior to obtaining its official moniker, the team was dubbed as "The Kia Kamao" which is a call back to Pacquiao's nickname "Pambansang Kamao".

Kia Sorento/Carnival (2014–15 season)

The Sorento marked their first win in franchise history after they defeated their fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite in the opening of the 2014–15 PBA season at the Philippine Arena. They lost their next ten games and finished 11th in the Philippine Cup.

Mahindra Floodbuster Enforcer 39Floodbuster39 single cab in Philippines

For the 2015 Commissioner's Cup, the team changed its name to "Kia Carnival" to promote the introduction of the 2015 model of its namesake minivan. The team signed Puerto Rican player Peter John Ramos as their reinforcement.

In the 2015 Governors' Cup, the team selected Senegalese national team center Hamady N'diaye and Taiwanese stalwart Jet Chang as imports. The team created history by having the first Senegalese and Taiwanese imports in the league.

Mahindra Enforcer (2015–16 season)

On July 15, 2015, team managers Eric Pineda and Joe Ramos announced that the team will play the 2015–16 season as the "Mahindra Enforcer". The name change reflects the thrust of the company to introduce the Mahindra automobile brand.

Mahindra Enforcer became the first team in the PBA to have its own training facility, with the unveiling of "The Hardcourt" on March 12, 2016. The Hardcourt, which also contains a swimming pool, and a weights room, is located within the grounds of Azure Urban Resort and Residences in Bicutan, Parañaque. The facility will also have a basketball shooting machine.

For the 2016 Commissioner's Cup, the team signed the American player Augustus Gilchrist as their reinforcement

During the 2016 Governor's Cup, the Enforcers made their best start in their franchise history with 4–0 record. The franchise also made their first ever PBA playoff appearance but they lost to the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals.