A distraction affected the team off the court when the Ayala Corporation sold Pure Foods Corporation (including its PBA franchise) to San Miguel Corporation. The problem with this development was that SMC already had two PBA ballclubs in San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, and it was not allowed by the league for a company to own three teams in the league. This meant that either the Ayala group had to retain their team under a new banner or for SMC to disband the team after the season. Eventually, the PBA Board of Governors adjusted the rule and allowed the Purefoods PBA franchise to be acquired by SMC and to remain an active team.