Quezon Huskers

Quezon Huskers
2024 Quezon Huskers season
League	URBL (2004–2005) MPBL (2023–present) PSL (2023–present)
Founded	2004;20 years ago (2004) (first incarnation) 2023;1 year ago (2023) (second incarnation)
History	Quezon 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
Championships	PSL: 1 (2024)
Conference titles	MPBL: 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.

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 alongside the Negros Muscovados. ^[1] The team also competes Pilipinas Super League (PSL) under the name Quezon Titans. The Huskers also have a volleyball counterpart in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association in the Quezon Tangerines. ^[2]

Owned by the Provincial Government of Quezon, ^{[3] [4]} the Quezon-based franchise won one championship, during the PSL's President's Cup in 2024. ^[5]

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. ^[1] 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. ^[3] 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 used the Titans moniker.

Current roster

Quezon Huskers roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G/F 1 Roño, Robin National-U G/F 2 Fuentes, Judel Ric 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Centro Escolar F 4 Salonga, Rafael  (HG) F/C 5 Sandagon, Ximone  (HG) Far Eastern F 6 Placino, Bryant  (HG) G/F 7 Matillano, Domark G/F 10 Alcala, Mark  (HG) De La Salle F 12 Gravera, Rodel  (HG) Far Eastern G 13 Gonzales, Ljay 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Far Eastern G/F 14 Torres, Xyrus 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 2000-09-23 Far Eastern F/C 15 Gozum, Will   6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1999–04–08 St. Benilde F 17 Opiso, Jason Centro Escolar G 18 Torres, Thomas 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 1994–10–27 De La Salle G 20 Lagrama, Christopher  (HG) 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 G 29 Abundo, Alvin 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–10–29 Centro Escolar F/C 34 Canon, Lander F/C 41 Saitanan, Jessie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–10–07 Mapúa F 44 Marasigan, Felipe  (HG) St. Benilde F/C 55 Buñag, Christian F 77 Banal, Gab 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1990–09–09 Mapúa G/F 99 Ibañez, Niño

Head coach Eric Gonzales Assistant coach(es) Nash Racela Richie Ticzon Ed Dela Torre Luis Nolasco Jonathan de Guzman Bernard de Guia Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee (RS) Reserve player Injured Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: April 20, 2024

Head coaches

• Eric Gonzales (2023–present)

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

All-Star selections Mark Alcala – 2023 Alfrancis Tamsi – 2023 Ljay Gonzales – 2024 Ximone Sandagon – 2024

PBA players

Ex-PBA players Alvin Abundo Gab Banal Jeric Teng

Season-by-season records

	League champions
	Division champions
	Qualified for playoffs
	Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Season	Regular season							Playoffs
	Division	Finish	GP	W	L	PCT	GB	Stage	Results
Quezon Huskers
2023	South	5th	28	19	9	.679	4	Division quarterfinals	lost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2024	South	1st	28	21	7	.750	–	Division quarterfinals Division semifinals Division finals National finals	won vs. Negros, 2–0 won vs. Parañaque, 2–0 won vs. Batangas City, 2–1 TBD vs. Pampanga
All-time regular season record			56	40	16	.714		2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record			10	7	3	.700		1 Finals appearances
All-time overall record			66	47	19	.712		0 championships

Pilipinas Super League

Season	Elimination round				Playoffs
	Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
Quezon Titans
2023–24 President's Cup	5th	14	4	.778	First 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 record		14	4	.778	1 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record		8	1	.889	1 Finals appearance
All-time overall record		22	5	.815	1 championship

References

1. "MPBL welcomes Quezon Province, Negros Muscovados". Manila Bulletin . January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
2. Ulanday, John Bryan (June 26, 2024). "Quezon Tangerines vying in MPVA". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
3. "Quezon Huskers edge Negros for first win in MPBL". The Manila Times. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
4. Terrado, Reuben (March 11, 2023). "Quezon Huskers eye playoff berth in maiden stint in MPBL". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
5. Saldajeno, Ivan (April 16, 2024). "Destiny fulfilled as Quezon pulls away late from Nueva Ecija to win PSL title". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved July 14, 2024.