U-Tex Wranglers
| U/Tex Wranglers | |||
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| History | |||
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U/Tex Weavers (1975–1976) U/Tex Wranglers (1976–1982) |
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| Joined PBA | 1975 | ||
| Team colors | Blue and yellow (1975–1979) Blue, yellow and red (1977–1978) Black and gold (1980) Blue, yellow, gray and white (1981–1982) |
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| Company | Universal Textile Mills, Inc. | ||
| Owner(s) | Walter Euyang | ||
| Head coach |
Caloy Loyzaga Narciso Bernardo Glenn McDonald |
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| Disbanded | 1983 | ||
| Championships | |||
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2 championships 4 Finals Appearances |
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| Uniforms | |||
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2 championships
The U/Tex Wranglers were Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) league pioneers having joined the PBA in its maiden season of 1975. The team was owned by the now-defunct Universal Textile Mills, Inc.
Not much is remembered or known about the U/Tex Weavers in their MICAA days. They were bannered by Lawrence "Larry" Mumar, Danny Basilan, and Lucio Lim. Others who donned the Weavers jersey were Francis Arnaiz, Ben O'Clarit Jr., Jumbo Salvador, Roehl Nadurata, Clemente Bargas, Gentil Abbas, Orly de los Santos, Domingo Celis, and others.
The U/Tex Weavers led by Freddie Hubalde, Danny Basilan, and Ricky Pineda won the 1973 Dona Edralin Marcos Cup held at the Loyola Center. The Weavers' 4-overtime win over Manilabank was a forgotten classic mainly because of the absence of stars who were preparing for the 7th Asian Basketball Confederation and were off their mother teams. Others in that championship Weavers team included were former college standouts Jess Sta. Maria, Jimmy Santos, and Virgilio "Bong" de la Cruz; and centers Roehl Deles and Romeo Franks.
The team had its big break in 1974 when BAP President Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat pardoned players previously banned for game-fixing and awarded to U/Tex former Crispa players Danilo Florencio and Rudolf Kutch. Both players debuted with U/Tex during the 1974 National Seniors against MLQU. Overall, they finished 2nd next to champion Yco, by virtue of tie-breaking rules, as a muffed Philip Cezar free throw gave them a win over Crispa.
During the 1974 MICAA All-Filipino tournament, Danny Florencio hit a controversial buzzer-beating layup that gave U/Tex a win over the Toyota Comets, coming from 20 points down with 7 minutes remaining. U/Tex earned the right to face Crispa in the MICAA All-Filipino finals. However, Toyota placed the game under protest and the MICAA officials ordered a rematch. U/Tex refused to play and defaulted the rematch, paving the way for first-ever championship meeting between Crispa and Toyota. It was to be the last tournament of the "old MICAA". The MICAA lost its prominence in basketball with the founding of the professional Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in early 1975.
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Wikipedia