RFM-Swift Hotdogs

RFM-Swift's
LeaguesPABL/PBL (1983-1996)
Founded1983
LocationPhilippines
Team colorsRed, blue and white
     
Head coachJun Noel
Virgil Villavicencio
Yeng Guiao
Boy Afable
Arturo Valenzona
Roehl Nadurata
Alfredo Amador
ChampionshipsPABL (3):
*1987 International Invitational Cup
*1988 International Invitational Cup
*1989 Freedom Cup

RFM-Swift Hotdogs is a former basketball team of the now defunct Philippine Basketball League in which the ballclub played in the league's inaugural season in 1983 until the disbandment of the franchise in 1996. The company, Republic Flour Mills (RFM), through owner and then PABL chairman Joey Concepcion III, is known to be supportive of amateur basketball and sponsoring the national team during the late-1980s.[1]

RFM won three PABL championships from 1987 to 1989, first with coach Yeng Guiao and with borrowed players Jojo Lastimosa and Peter Aguilar from Converse-Lhuillier and Nelson Asaytono from Magnolia, reinforcing the squad. The team won their first championship in the 1987 First Conference.[2] The Hotdogs retain the crown the following season, this time under coach Arturo Valenzona and with Alvin Patrimonio as their franchise player, winning his last amateur title. RFM-Swift's has also won the National Open title in March of that year.[3]

In the 1989 PABL Second Conference called Freedom Cup, RFM known as Swift Squeeze Juice Drinks with coach Yeng Guiao returning from the bench, won their third title behind the likes of Eugene Quilban, Vergel Meneses, Andy De Guzman and Bong Ravena.

Most of the PBA stars have played for RFM-Swift's in the PABL, including PBA greats Alvin Patrimonio, Ato Agustin and Vergel Meneses. When the company decided to make its entry into the pro league as one of the expansion franchise in 1990. The amateur team was retained but the once powerhouse and glamour ballclub somewhat lost its luster in the 1990s era. They used team names such as Sarsi, Pop Cola, New Pop Cola, Rica Hotdogs and Carol-Anns and didn't figure in a championship berth.

Players who won a title with Swift

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Players 1987 International Invitational 1988 International Invitational 1989 Freedom Cup
Peter Aguilar Green tickY Green tickY
Renato Agustin Green tickY Green tickY
Demetrio Antonio Green tickY
Nelson Asaytono Green tickY
Junel Baculi Green tickY
Richard Bognot Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Elmer Cabahug Green tickY Green tickY
Jerome Cueto Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Alejandro de Guzman Green tickY
Menardo Jubinal Green tickY
Jojo Lastimosa Green tickY
Romeo Lopez Green tickY
Loreto Manaog Green tickY
Ricardo Marata Green tickY Green tickY
Richard Mendoza Green tickY
Vergel Meneses Green tickY
Cadel Mosqueda Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Victor Pablo Green tickY
Alvin Patrimonio Green tickY
Joseph Pelaez Green tickY Green tickY
Eugene Quilban Green tickY
Bong Ravena Green tickY
Zaldy Realubit Green tickY Green tickY
Alex Regis Green tickY
Django Rivera Green tickY
Melchor Teves Green tickY
Teofano Tiu Green tickY
Ariel Tizon Green tickY Green tickY
Ferdinand Santos Green tickY
Reynaldo Yncierto Green tickY

References

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  1. ^ "PABL's endless worry". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Elevation for RFM's Guiao". Manila Standard.
  3. ^ "RFM is new National Champ". Manila Standard.
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See also

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