The Pampanga Dragons were a professional basketball team of the now-defunct

Metropolitan Basketball Association The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), or Metroball, was a professional basketball league in the Philippines that ran from March 7, 1998, to July 26, 2002. History The MBA played its first game on March 7, 1998, at the Don Narciso Ramos ...

from 1998 to 2000 and in 2002 as Pampanga Stars. The team was owned by Jose Antonio Gonzales II and was named Dragons because the father and son pair of Tony and Anton Gonzales owned Mondragon Industries.

History

The Pampanga Dragons took early leadership during the infant stage of the Metropolitan league, winning their first four games with

Ato Agustin Renato Guilas Agustin (born August 1, 1963) is a Filipino former professional basketball player, politician, and current assistant coach for the San Miguel Beermen. He played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines before moving on ...

, a one-time PBA Most Valuable Player, averaging 25.2 points per game in their four straight victories before a sprain ankle kept him out in the Dragons' 73-78 loss to

Manila Metrostars The Manila Metrostars were a professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998 to 2001. The team was the 1999 MBA National Champions and holds the MBA record of winning 22 consecutive games during the sa ...

prior to the Holy Week break for their first loss in five games.

First league champion

The Pampanga Dragons were the first MBA national champions in the inaugural season in 1998, the Dragons defeated the

Negros Slashers 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 ...

, four games to one, in the national finals. Ato Agustin's two charities with only three seconds to go, sealed an 89-85 victory in Game five. Among the rosters in the champion team of coach Aric del Rosario, aside from Agustin, were Gherome Ejercito, Ato Morano, Udoy Belmonte, Andy de Guzman, Norman Gonzales, 6-5 Angelo David and 6-foot-4 bruiser Dave Bautista.

Next two seasons (1999-2000)

Though Pampanga acquired the services of PBA's "Mr. Excitement" Bong Alvarez in 1999 it lost some key players during the off-season: Bryant Punzalan (to

SocSarGen Marlins The Sarangani Marlins, previously known as the Taguig and Soccsksargen Marlins, are a professional basketball team in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998–2001 and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League since 2019. History ...

), Norman Gonzales (to

Cagayan de Oro Amigos Cagayan ( ), officially the Province of Cagayan ( ilo, Probinsia ti Cagayan; ibg, Provinsiya na Cagayan; itv, Provinsiya ya Cagayan; fil, Lalawigan ng Cagayan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region, covering ...

), and Gherome Ejercito to new team (

San Juan Knights The San Juan Kings, previously known as the San Juan Knights, are a professional basketball team representing San Juan, Metro Manila. They played in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) from 1999 to 2001, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketba ...

). The team also lost Ato Agustin as he went back to the PBA playing for

Sta. Lucia Realtors The Sta. Lucia Realtors were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1993 to 2010. Prior to joining the PBA, it played in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) from 1987 to 1992. In 2015, a new Sta. L ...

. The Dragons fell to hard times during the 2000 MBA season, forcing Dragons owner Anton Gonzales to file a leave of absence beginning the following year.

Return as Pampanga Stars in 2002

They make a comeback in the 2002 MBA season as Pampanga Stars, this time under coach Allan Trinidad

Roster lists

*Ariel L. Reyes *

Renato Agustin Renato Guilas Agustin (born August 1, 1963) is a Filipino former professional basketball player, politician, and current assistant coach for the San Miguel Beermen. He played college basketball for the Lyceum of the Philippines before moving on ...

Paul Alvarez Paul Beleno "Bong" Alvarez (born June 15, 1968) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts. Basketball career At the ...

* Ernesto Ballesteros *Billy Bansil *Dave Bautista *Rudolf Belmonte *Celino Cruz *Gabby Cui *Angelo David *Andy de Guzman *Jonathan de Guzman *

Gherome Ejercito Gherome Eric Angeles Ejercito (; born March 19, 1977) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He last played for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also first played from the Pampanga Dr ...

*Ariel Garcia *Junel Mendiola * Rolof Liangco *Renato Morano *Aldrin Morante *Michael Otto *Roland Pascual *Ramon Pido *Bryant Punzalan *Paeng Santos *Vince John Santos *

Siot Tanquingcen Bethune "Siot" Tanquingcen is a Filipino professional basketball head coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Benilde Blazers. As coach, Tanquingcen has won three PBA championships: two with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel ( 2004 Fiesta Co ...

*Eric Gascon

Team Manager

*Gil Cortez

References

{{reflist

External links

MBA (1998-2002)@gameface.ph
Metropolitan Basketball Association teams Basketball teams established in 1998 1998 establishments in the Philippines