Bicolandia Oragons

Bicolandia Oragons
2024 Bicolandia Oragons season
League	MPBL
Founded	2019; 6 years ago (2019)
History	Bicol Volcanoes 2019–2023 Bicolandia Oragons 2024–present
Arena	Ibalong Centrum for Recreation Albay Astrodome (all last used in 2019–20)
Location	Legazpi, Albay
Team colors
Main sponsor	Shawarma Shack
Head coach	Raymond Valenzona

The Bicolandia Oragons (also known as Bicolandia Oragons–Shawarma Shack for sponsorship reasons) are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Legazpi, Albay. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. The team most recently split its home games between Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and Albay Astrodome.

Originally named the Bicol Volcanoes, the team was founded as one of six expansion teams for the league's 2019–20 season.[1] The Oragons are the lone team based in the Bicol Region.

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]

Home venues

The Bicol franchise has used two venues in the 2019–20 season: the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and the Albay Astrodome, both located in Legazpi, Albay.

Venue	Location	2019–20	2022	2023	2024
Ibalong Centrum for Recreation	Legazpi, Albay	Y	DNP	N	N
Albay Astrodome		Y		N	N

Personnel

Current roster

Bicolandia Oragons roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 2 Velvez, David 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) F 5 Go, Raphael 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Letran F 6 Yu, Mark 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Lyceum G 8 Anglim, Aldrienne 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) F 9 Santos, Jomar 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) St. Clare F 10 Deles, RJ 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) St. Benilde F 11 Llarena, Cyrus (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) G 13 Lee, Marvin 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) UST G 14 Reyes, Raphy 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1987–12–01 UE F 17 Burgos, Charles 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) St. Clare G 19 Gallego, JV 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) San Beda G 20 Alfonso, Justin (HG) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) F 23 Rojas, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) St. Clare G 24 Manzanila, Kinjhevam (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) F 26 Manaug, Sean (HG) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) F/C 27 Javier, Chris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–12–06 UE G 32 Alanes, Shaq 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Lyceum G 39 Macaballug, Michael 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) F 55 Casajeros, Lordy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1989–10–30 UE F 77 Lao, Kent 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST F 88 Ng Sang, Jay-ar 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Head coach Raymond Valenzona Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee (RS) Reserve player Injured Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: June 14, 2024

Head coaches

#	Name	Term	Ref.
1	Monel Kallos	2019–20
2	Aldin Ayo	2021
3	Vis Valencia	2023
4	Jason Santiago	2023–2024
5	Raymond Valenzona	2024

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

All-Star selections Ronjay Buenafe – 2020

PBA players

Ex-PBA players Ronjay Buenafe Mark Cruz Brian Ilad Chris Javier James Martinez Alex Nuyles Raphy Reyes Mac Tallo Mark Yee

Season-by-season records

	League champions
	Division champions
	Qualified for playoffs
	Best regular season record

Season	Regular season							Playoffs
	Division	Finish	GP	W	L	PCT	GB	Stage	Results
Bicol Volcanoes
2019–20 Lakan Season	South	8th	30	16	14	.533	10	Division quarterfinals	lost vs. Davao Occidental, 1–2
Did not participate in 2022
2023	South	14th	28	1	27	.036	22	Did not qualify
Bicolandia Oragons
2024	South	13th	28	3	25	.107	18	Did not qualify
All-time regular season record			86	20	66	.233		1 playoff appearance
All-time playoff record			3	1	2	.333		0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record			89	21	68	.236		0 championships

Home arenas

• Ibalong Centrum for Recreation – Legazpi, Albay (2019–)
• Albay Astrodome – Legazpi, Albay (2019–)

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.