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 (2023–2024)
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
2023–2024 (PSL)
Arena Quezon Convention Center
Lucena Convention Center
Location Lucena, Quezon
Team colors   
Head coach Eric Gonzales
ChampionshipsPSL: 1 (2024)
Conference titlesMPBL: 1 (2024)

The Quezon Huskers are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Lucena. 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 split their home games between Quezon Convention Center and Lucena Convention Center.

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 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
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
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  Cruz Roja.svg6 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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated as of: April 20, 2024

Head coaches

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

PBA players

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
DivisionFinishGPWLPCTGBStageResults
Quezon Huskers
2023 South5th28199.6794Division quarterfinalslost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2024 South1st28217.750–Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals
Division finals
National finals		won vs. Negros, 2–0
won vs. Parañaque, 2–0
won vs. Batangas City, 2–1
lost vs. Pampanga, 0–3
All-time regular season record564016.7142 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record1376.5381 Finals appearances
All-time overall record694722.6810 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 appearance
All-time playoff record81.8891 Finals appearance
All-time overall record225.8151 championship

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References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.
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