RFM-Swift Hotdogs is a former basketball team of the now defunct

Philippine Basketball League The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) was a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league was composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars. History The PBL was formed on Ma ...

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. RFM won three PABL championships from 1987-1989, first with coach Yeng Guiao and with borrowed players

Jojo Lastimosa Isabelo "Jojo" Lastimosa Jr. (born March 10, 1964) is a Filipino former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Purefoods Hotdogs, the Alaska Aces and the Pop Cola Panthers from 1988 to 2002. He was als ...

and Peter Aguilar from Converse-Lhuillier and

Nelson Asaytono Nelson Asaytono (born January 25, 1967) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who played for Purefoods, Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola, San Miguel Beer, and Red Bull in the PBA during his 17-year career. Collegiate / Amateur career Asa ...

from Magnolia, reinforcing the squad. The team won their first championship in the 1987 First Conference. The Hotdogs retain the crown the following season, this time under coach

Arturo Valenzona Arturo "Turo" F. Valenzona (born November 5, 1942), is a former Filipino basketball player and head coach. Valenzona played college ball for the Far Eastern University before eventually playing in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic As ...

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. 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 Vergel Corpuz Meneses (born January 14, 1969) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player and a politician, serving as mayor of the municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan. He previously played in the Philippine Basketball Association and ser ...

, 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 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 ...

and

. 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

References

External links

See also