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Bicolandia Oragons

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

Notable players

Season-by-season records

Home arenas

References

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