However, when manager Mikee Romero decided to pull out of the team, they were reorganized and renamed the Burger King Whoppers before returning to their original name starting the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference.

Barako Bull is owned by Energy Food and Drinks Inc., a subsidiary of the Linaheim Corporate Services, owners of the defunct Laguna Lakers of the Metropolitan Basketball Association.

To add insult, the deportation of alleged fil-sham Sonny Alvarado and the indefinite suspensions of Eric Menk and Rudy Hatfield (due to lack of documents to prove themselves as a legitimate Fil-American), the management became frustrated.

After the 2001 season, the firesale began as Tanduay traded Dondon Hontiveros to San Miguel, Jeffrey Cariaso to the new Coca Cola franchise and Menk to Barangay Ginebra.

With this, FedEx nabbed Saint Francis of Assisi College System 6-foot-9 center Yancy de Ocampo as their first-ever pick as a PBA team.

In the Fiesta Conference, the Express ended up in ninth place and was eliminated by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in the Wild-Card phase.

But the Express traded Washington and Cardona in separate deals to Talk 'N Text for Yancy de Ocampo and Patrick Fran, respectively, amid criticisms by various people.

With Perasol as coach and bulky import Shawn Daniels at the helm, the Express surprised everyone with several upsets against Talk 'N Text and San Miguel to finish fourth in the classification phase.

On May 8, the team traded its franchise player Ritualo to the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals for Leo Avenido and two future first round picks.

Many basketball fans saw this trade as another rebuilding mode for the team while others speculate about a potential cost-cutting of the Express for its impending disbandment, although there were no accuracy of the possibility.

In the off season, the Express acquired Aries Dimaunahan and Ervin Sotto from the Ginebra as part of a huge three-team trade along with the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Before the start of the wildcard phase, Air21 sent Yancy de Ocampo and Leo Avenido to Talk 'N Text for rookies Mark Andaya and Abby Santos plus future draft picks.

Air21 also had talks with former Senator and the PBA's Living Legend Robert Jaworski to either accept a capacity within the team or as a head coach before he beg off prior to the start of the Fiesta Conference.

In the ensuing wildcard phase, the Express eliminated the defending champions Barangay Ginebra Kings, thanks to Wynne Arboleda's career-high 32 points.

In the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference, the team, bannered by 6-ft 9-in hulking import Steve Thomas with Gary David and Arwind Santos, entered the Finals for the first time in franchise history.

And in Game 7, with all the cards in place, the two teams fought gallantly to the finish, but the more experienced Ginebra showed resiliency and defeated the Express, denying them the title.

In the next conference, they changed their name to the Burger King Titans and an all-new coaching staff was formed consisting of Yeng Guiao, Junel Baculi, Roehl Nadurata, and Jorge Gallent.

During the meeting, team manager of the Express Lito Alvarez presented the documents that proved the 60 percent ownership of Bert Lina of the Burger King franchise.

He also showed a letter from the late former commissioner Jun Bernardino that states: "if Mr. Lina owns at least 33.3 percent of any brand name in the PBA, then no franchise/transfer fee will be paid."

Romero's first move was hiring former Red Bull Barako mentor and current RP head coach Yeng Guiao.

[6] Three days later, PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios suspended him for the rest of the 2009–2010 season without pay effective immediately, on top of any possible court case Katigbak would file against him as a result of the assault.

[8] The team then acquired Doug Kramer and Rich Alvarez from the Barangay Ginebra Kings in exchange for Yancy de Ocampo and a future 2nd round draft pick.

On March 2, 2011, the San Miguel Beermen has finally closed a deal with the Air 21 Express with the approval of Commissioner Chito Salud.

The trade is the revised proposal of the Beermen which initially involved Joseph Yeo, Danny Seigle and Mick Pennisi in exchange for the said top rookie picks.

Before the start of the 39th PBA season, Barako Bull was the subject of all the criticism from league pundits and social media, because of the questionable personnel moves made during the off-season.

[10] Casyao explained that they wanted to get quality, tried and tested veteran players that can give them some impact right away, as opposed to rebuilding the team with rookies from the ground up.

They finished sixth in the 2013–14 PBA Philippine Cup with 5–9 record,[11] earned a playoff spot and the right to face Petron Blaze Boosters in their best of three quarterfinal series.

The team also has been involved in a series of trades first sending sophomore Jeric Fortuna to San Miguel Beermen for veteran Paolo Hubalde they also traded veteran big man Mick Pennisi to Purefoods Star Hotshots for Ronnie Matias, Isaac Holstein and two future second round picks.

In January 2016, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. had sealed a deal with Barako Bull for the team's transfer of ownership costing 100 million pesos.

[15][16] June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel), Chris Ellis (Barangay Ginebra), Ian Sangalang and Justin Melton (Star) were all acquired by their respective teams from trading future draft picks from Barako Bull.