In a league where minutes often invite scrutiny, opportunity can quickly turn into a spotlight.
For Francis Escandor, increased playing time with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters hasn’t just meant more responsibility—it has also come with questions from the outside.
But inside the team, the view is far more grounded.
Head coach Charles Tiu has made it clear that Escandor’s role isn’t about circumstance—it’s about trust. And that trust, he says, is rooted in familiarity and belief in what the player brings beyond the box score.
“I think Francis is a solid PBA player,” Tiu said. “He’s been riding the bench the last couple of seasons sa Rain or Shine. Only now siya nakakalaro. But I had a chance to coach him before, I know what he can do. He is really a good shooter and a good defender. He played for me sa SGA.”
For Tiu, the current rotation isn’t built on perception—it’s built on need and reliability.
With injuries affecting the lineup, including Kai Ballungay, Phoenix has had to lean on depth. And in those moments, Escandor has become one of the pieces the coaching staff turns to—not necessarily for numbers, but for stability.
“For me, it’s about giving guys trust, giving them confidence. Kai (Ballungay) has been hurt anyway. We are a bit short with our players,” he said.
That trust was evident in Escandor’s extended minutes in a recent outing, where he logged over 27 minutes. The stat line—two points, five rebounds, one steal—didn’t jump off the page. But for Tiu, impact isn’t always measured that way.
“(Against Rain or Shine), he played great, he ended up playing 27 minutes, but he was solid defensively. You won’t see much mistakes from him. Would have made a big three also. Ako, I need guys like that. Guys I trust that can follow what we want and are smart players. Bilib naman ako kay Francis,” he said.
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Ros was unlikely to go undefeated throughout the elims but it’s a mild surprise that Pheonix would be the first team who’d beat them. It’s a testament to the sterling coaching job Charles Tiu has done despite Kai Ballungay’s injury and the Francis “the Franchise” Escandor issue.
— PBA insider (@PBAinsider) April 22, 2026
Poor Phoenix Fuelmasters. They have to play 4v5 every game. Francis Escandor is a complete bum and shouldn’t be given even a single minute. He is holding this team down.
— Noms (@noamsssss) April 21, 2026
Still, the outside noise hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Reports and assumptions have fueled criticism toward Escandor, but Tiu believes the narrative has overlooked something more important—the work being done away from the spotlight.
“Sometimes, it’s unfair. Actually, I feel bad for Francis. I don’t think he deserves any of it. He just really wants to play basketball. I hope they can just lay off him and let the guy just enjoy. We play basketball. We love the game. They are pros.”
“I’m sure it’s very hard for him. Pero kahit papaano, grabe rin bilib ko sa kanya kasi hindi siya nagpapadala. Trabaho lang siya everyday. He really puts in the work. He trains every morning at 5 a.m. No excuses yun.”
For Tiu, that consistency matters more than any narrative.
“To him, he is just one of the guys. Yun ang maganda. No matter what, he is just another player and another teammate. And that’s what I appreciate kay Francis.”
In a team searching for cohesion amid challenges, that mindset might be just as valuable as any stat line.
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