Quezon Huskers

Last updated

Quezon Huskers
Basketball current event.svg 2024 Quezon Huskers season
Quezon Huskers logo.png
League URBL (2004–2005)
MPBL (2023–present)
PSL (2023–present)
Founded2004;20 years ago (2004) (first incarnation)
2023;1 year ago (2023) (second incarnation)
HistoryQuezon Coco Huskers
2004–2005 (URBL)
Quezon Huskers
2023–present (MPBL)
Quezon Titans
2023–present (PSL)
Arena Quezon Convention Center
Location Lucena, Quezon
Team colors   
Head coach Eric Gonzales
ChampionshipsPSL: 1 (2024)

The Quezon Huskers are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Quezon. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are one of five active teams based in Calabarzon and play their home games at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena.

Contents

The team's first incarnation was the Quezon Coco Huskers of the United Regional Basketball League (URBL). The team ran from 2004 until 2005. The Huskers were then revived as an expansion team for the MPBL's 2023 season. The team also competes Pilipinas Super League (PSL) under the name Quezon Titans.

The team also has a Junior MPBL side in the Quezon Junior Huskers for the junior league's inaugural season. The team is owned by the Provincial Government of Quezon. [1] [2]

The Quezon-based franchise won one championship, during the PSL's President's Cup in 2024.

History

First incarnation (2004–2005)

The team began play in 2004, when it was part of the now-defunct URBL.

Second incarnation (2023–present)

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

In January 2023, the MPBL announced that the league would be getting a new expansion team for the 2023 season. Later that month, Quezon Governor Angelina Tan announced that the team would be based in the province of Quezon. The team's name was later revealed as the Quezon Huskers. With the Huskers joining, Quezon became the last province in Calabarzon to have an MPBL team.

The team hosted the 2023 season opener, where they faced off against fellow expansion team Negros Muscovados. The Huskers pulled off a comeback in the second half to beat the Muscovados, 82–80. [1] The Huskers would then go on a seven-game winning streak to begin their inaugural season and eventually finish with a record of 19–9, clinching the fifth seed in the South Division. Quezon became the first team in the professional era to make the playoffs in its inaugural season. Despite forcing a game 3 in the First Round, the team would lose to the defending South champion Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.

Pilipinas Super League

In October 2023, Quezon announced its entry to the PSL during the MPBL offseason. The team will be referred to as the Quezon Titans.

Team identity

The name Huskers alludes to Quezon Province's moniker as the "Coconut Capital of the Philippines'. It can also be a nod to the team's previous incarnation.

When the Huskers joined the MPBL in 2023, Governor Angelina Tan also announced a name-the-team contest, where anyone based in Quezon Province can submit a concept design of the team's identity. The contest was won by Ardocir Torio from Lucena, with an illustration of a carabao breaking the shell of a coconut. The same logo would be later used for the Quezon Junior Huskers. For their PSL debut later that year, the team uses the Titans moniker.

Current roster

Quezon Huskers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F/C 0 Gozum, Will 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg)1999–04–08 St. Benilde
F 1 Roño, Robin National-U
G/F 2 Fuentes, Judel Ric 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Centro Escolar
G 3 Chauca, Val
F 4 Salonga, Rafael
F 5 Sandagon, Ximone Far Eastern
F 6 Placino, Bryant
F 8 Teng, Jeric 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg)1991–03–18 UST
F 9 Rivero, Prince 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)1995–02–19 De La Salle
F 10 Alcala, Mark De La Salle
F 12 Gravera, Rodel Far Eastern
G 13 Gonzales, Ljay 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Far Eastern
F 14 Vesleño, Mark Venise
F 15 Kenneth, De Guia
F/C 17 Opiso, Jason Centro Escolar
G 18 Torres, Thomas 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)1994–10–27 De La Salle
F 19 Payawal, CJ
G/F 20 Lagrama, Christopher
F 24 Minerva, RJ National-U
G/F 25 Tamsi, Al Francis 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)158 lb (72 kg)1992–03–25 Far Eastern
F 27 Dela Torre, Ed
G 29 Abundo, Alvin 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)150 lb (68 kg)1992–10–29 Centro Escolar
33 Dongog, Arjay
G 40 Casiño, John Karlo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg) Centro Escolar
F 77 Banal, Gab 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg)1990–09–09 Mapúa
G/F 99 Kapunan, Don Vito
G/F – Gregorio, Jaggie
G – Torres, Xyrus 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)2000-09-23 Far Eastern
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated as of: March 27, 2024

Head coaches

Notable players

Quezon Huskers notable players
PlayerPositionTenureAwardsAll-Star
Alfrancis Tamsi2023–present—1 (2023)
Mark Alcala2023–present—1 (2023)

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
Quezon Huskers
2023 South5th199.679First Roundlost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2024 SouthTo be determined
All-time regular season record199.6791 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record12.3330 Finals appearances
All-time overall record2011.6450 championships

Pilipinas Super League

SeasonElimination roundPlayoffs
FinishWLPCTStageResults
Quezon Titans
2023–24
President's Cup		5th144.778First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		won vs. Novaliches, 1–0
won vs. Caloocan, 2–0
won vs. Biñan, 2–0
won vs. Nueva Ecija, 3–1
All-time elimination round record144.7781 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record81.8891 Finals appearances
All-time overall record225.8151 championships

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References

  1. 1 2 "Quezon Huskers edge Negros for first win in MPBL". The Manila Times. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ Terrado, Reuben (March 11, 2023). "Quezon Huskers eye playoff berth in maiden stint in MPBL". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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