Negros Slashers
| Negros Slashers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leagues | Metropolitan Basketball Association |
| Founded | 1998 |
| History |
Negros Slashers 1998-2001 RCPI-Negros Slashes 2002 |
| Arena | La Salle Coliseum |
| Location | Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines |
| Team colors | Navy blue, Light blue, White and Red |
| President | Oscar Bascon, Babes Alvarez |
| Head coach | Rolly Buenaflor (1998), Junel Baculi (1998), Jun Noel (1998–2001) and Robert Sison (2001–2002), Jojo Villapando(2002 national champions) |
| Championships | 1 MBA National Championship |
The Negros Slashers also known as the RCPI-Negros Slashers were a professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998 to 2002. The team enjoyed considerable success, winning the MBA National Championship in 2002, the last season of the said league. The team was based in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
The team was named "Slashers" based on the cane knives' slashing motion used by itinerant sugar workers to cut sugarcane stalks. Sugar is the main product of Negros Occidental. Bacolod businessmen Oscar "Dodong" Bascon and Babes Alvarez painstakingly formed the team composed of amateur standouts mostly from the Visayas-Mindanao leagues and former professional players from Philippine Basketball Association. Ronnie "DJ" Dejarlo was the first player to sign a contract with the team. Among the players that formed the team were Maui Huelar, Erwin Framo, Johnedel Cardel, John Ferriols, Allen Sasan and Jack Tanuan. Negrense Rolly Buenaflor was named as head coach.
The Negros Slashers played their first two games on the road against the Batangas Blades and Manila Metrostars, losing on both occasions despite having a solid team with a mix of veterans and newcomers. Rolly Buenaflor was relieved of head coaching duties shortly after and was replaced by Junel Baculi. But tragedy struck the team on the eve of their third game in Cebu City when their main player, DJ Dejarlo was found dead in their hotel room due to pancreatitis. Fueled by Dejarlo's unexpected death, the Slashers won their first game against eventual archrival Cebu Gems. Since then, the Slashers found their winning ways and became one of Southern Conference's formidable teams. But Baculi left the team before the second round of eliminations and was replaced by Cebuano coach Jun Noel. The team also signed up Palarong Pambansa standouts Reynel Hugnatan, Ryan Gamboa and Leo Bat-og to bolster their frontline.
They were able to barge in the National Playoffs and faced the Cebu Gems in the first Southern Conference Finals, marred by numerous fan incidents on and off court. They won the series 4-3 and went on to face the Pampanga Dragons. But luck worn out on them as the more experienced Dragons (bannered by former PBA MVP Ato Agustin) won the first MBA National Championship. Negros Slashers team captain John Ferriols was named the inaugural season's Most Valuable Player.
The Negros Slashers were grouped together with the Cebu Gems, Iloilo Volts, Davao Eagles, Socsargen Marlins and Cagayan de Oro Nuggets in the Southern Conference division.
...
Wikipedia