Bicolandia Oragons Explained

Bicolandia Oragons
Current:2024 Bicolandia Oragons season
League:MPBL
History:Bicol Volcanoes
2019–2023
Bicolandia Oragons
2024–present
Arena:Ibalong Centrum for Recreation
Albay Astrodome
Location:Legazpi, Albay
Sponsor:Shawarma Shack
Coach:Raymond Valenzona

The Bicolandia Oragons, also known as Bicolandia Oragons–Shawarma Shack for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Bicol Region. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are the lone team in the Bicol Region and split their home games between the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and the Albay Astrodome, both located in Legazpi, Albay.

Originally named the Bicol Volcanoes, the team was founded as one of six expansion teams for the league's 2019–20 season.[1]

History

Founded in 2019, the Bicol franchise joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as an expansion team for its 2019–20 season. The franchise was originally going to named the Albay Volcanoes,[2] but changed its location identifier to Bicol to represent the entire region.

Led by ex-PBA cager Ronjay Buenafe, the Volcanoes finished with a 16–14 record, clinching the eighth seed in the playoffs. Bicol faced the first-seeded Davao Occidental Tigers in the First Round. The team won game 2 to tie the series, marking the first time that an 8-seed won a playoff game against a 1-seed.[3] Unfortunately, Bicol would lose the deciding game 3 in overtime.[4] Bicol was one of the 22 teams that took part in the 2021 Invitational. After finishing second place in Group B, the team would lose to Imus in the Quarterfinals.[5] [6]

After opting out of the 2022 season, the team returned for the succeeding 2023 season. The team would go on to win only one game in the 28-game season, which came against Mindoro in the 17th game.[7]

On March 2, 2024, the team formally announced a name change to the Bicolandia Oragons, with Shawarma Shack as their main sponsor.[8]

Current roster

Head coaches

NameTermRef.
align=center 1 Monel Kallos 2019–20
align=center 2
align=center 3 Vis Valencia 2023
align=center 4 Jason Santiago 2023–2024
align=center 5 Raymond Valenzona 2024

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

All-Star selections

PBA players

Ex-PBA players

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Bicol Volcanoes
2019–20
South 8th 16 14 10
colspan=10
South 14th 1 27 22 Did not qualify
Bicolandia Oragons
South 13th 3 25 18 Did not qualify
All-time regular season record 20 66 1 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record 1 2 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 21 68 0 championships

Home arenas

Notes and References

  1. News: Luarca, Roy . Mindoro, Bicol join MPBL; Sta Lucia Realtors return . March 19, 2021 . Manila Standard . May 20, 2019.
  2. Web site: Joble . Rey . 2019-04-21 . No stopping MPBL . 2024-01-12 . BusinessWorld Online . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2020-02-22 . MPBL: Bicol, Batangas live to fight for another day . 2024-01-22 . ABS-CBN News.
  4. Web site: Davao Occidental beats Bicol in overtime to reach MPBL division semis . 2024-01-22 . Spin.ph . en.
  5. Web site: Pasig, Bicol advance to MPBL Invitational quarterfinals . 2024-01-22 . Spin.ph . en.
  6. Web site: 2021-12-22 . Imus shocks Bicol to make MPBL semis . 2024-01-22 . ABS-CBN News.
  7. Web site: GenSan, Pasig foil rivals; Bicol tallies 1st MPBL win . 2024-01-22 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  8. Web site: 2024-03-02 . New Team Name, New Beginnings. . 2024-03-02 . Bicol Volcanoes . Facebook.