Batangas Blades
Encyclopedia
The Batangas Blades is a former professional basketball team of the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association
from 1998-2002.
It's moniker was taken from the province's popularity in making Balisong (a Filipino-made knife). It also played for a short time in the Philippine Basketball League
after the MBA folded in 2002.
The team played its home games at the De La Salle Lipa
SENTRUM from 1998-2001 and at the Lipa City Convention Center in 2002. The PBL version of the Blades also played a number of games at both venues. To compensate the loss of the Manila Metrostars
after both clubs' merger, the Blades played a few home games in Manila's Mail and More Sports Complex (now San Andres Gym).
. The Blades were paraded in their first season by former Adamson Falcons players Eddie Laure, Dennis Madrid, former La Salle Green Archer
and part-time comedian Maui Roca and Jeffrey Sanders. The Blades were owned by delivery giant LBC of Santi Araneta.
Laure became the Blades' star player but the team had a disappointing 10-12 win-loss slate despite a late push for the playoffs. Despite Ralph Rivera and Fil-Am Stephen Antonio's arrival in 1999, the Blades went 12-18 and lost in three games to the San Juan Knights
in the Northern Conference Wild-Card series.
In 2000, Batangas missed the playoffs with a 12-14 record.
were merged into a single team, retaining the Batangas Blades name. With the merger, the team became a stronger squad with Eddie Laure, Jeffrey Sanders and Metrostar superstars 2000 MBA MVP Rommel Adducul
and Alex Compton
. They also added LBC to its team name, making it the LBC Batangas Blades.
The Blades became the team to beat in the Northern Conference, compiling an 11-3 win-loss record in the first phase of the MBA season, but lost to the San Juan Knights in the playoffs. During the second phase of the tournament, which was for the MBA National Championship, the Blades recorded another 11-3 record but this time edged the Knights 3-1 in the Northern Finals to enter their first finals appearance in history. The Blades defeated the Negros Slashers
, 3-1 to win their first MBA national title. Laure was named as the MVP of the 2001 season.
In the 2002 season, Batangas lost Adducul to the returning Pangasinan Waves but made its return trip to the finals after scoring a huge upset over the top team in the North, the Olongapo Volunteers
, in a one-game match for the finals spot. The Blades then lost to the Slashers via a three-game sweep in the First Conference of the season. The MBA National tournament was played but was later discounted due to the folding of the MBA.
. Instead, the team added some amateur players on their squad such as St. Benilde Blazers
tandem of Al Magpayo and Ronald Capati and NU Bulldog
Froilan Baguion. The team did retain the LBC-Batangas Blades name as the team placed fourth in the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup. In the 2003 PBL Unity Cup, the Blades did not make it to the semifinals, as the team disbanded for good.
Metropolitan Basketball Association
The Metropolitan Basketball Association or Metroball was a professional basketball league in the Philippines founded in 1998.The MBA overtook the Philippine Basketball Association's plans on regionalization when the league adopted a home-and-away format where teams, instead of representing...
from 1998-2002.
It's moniker was taken from the province's popularity in making Balisong (a Filipino-made knife). It also played for a short time in the Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
after the MBA folded in 2002.
The team played its home games at the De La Salle Lipa
De La Salle Lipa
De La Salle Lipa, or DLSL is a Lasallian educational institution located in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines. It is the latest of the third generation of La Salle schools founded by the De La Salle Brothers in the country: La Salle Academy-Iligan in 1958, La Salle Green Hills in 1959, Saint...
SENTRUM from 1998-2001 and at the Lipa City Convention Center in 2002. The PBL version of the Blades also played a number of games at both venues. To compensate the loss of the Manila Metrostars
Manila Metrostars
The Manila Metrostars was a former professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998-2001. The team was the 1999 MBA National Champions and holds the MBA record of winning 22 consecutive games during the said season. The team was merged with the Batangas...
after both clubs' merger, the Blades played a few home games in Manila's Mail and More Sports Complex (now San Andres Gym).
1998-2000
In 1998, the Metropolitan Basketball Association was formed as a regional-based professional league which also challenged the commercial Philippine Basketball AssociationPhilippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. The Blades were paraded in their first season by former Adamson Falcons players Eddie Laure, Dennis Madrid, former La Salle Green Archer
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers are the men's varsity teams representing De La Salle University. The women's varsity teams are referred to as the De La Salle Lady Archers. The school's athletic program participates in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among others...
and part-time comedian Maui Roca and Jeffrey Sanders. The Blades were owned by delivery giant LBC of Santi Araneta.
Laure became the Blades' star player but the team had a disappointing 10-12 win-loss slate despite a late push for the playoffs. Despite Ralph Rivera and Fil-Am Stephen Antonio's arrival in 1999, the Blades went 12-18 and lost in three games to the San Juan Knights
San Juan Knights
The San Juan Knights was a professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1999 to 2001. The team enjoyed considerable success, winning the MBA National Championship in 2000. The team was owned by former San Juan mayor, and now Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada...
in the Northern Conference Wild-Card series.
In 2000, Batangas missed the playoffs with a 12-14 record.
2001-2002: Batangas-Manila merger
In 2001, the Blades and the 1999 MBA National Champion Manila MetrostarsManila Metrostars
The Manila Metrostars was a former professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998-2001. The team was the 1999 MBA National Champions and holds the MBA record of winning 22 consecutive games during the said season. The team was merged with the Batangas...
were merged into a single team, retaining the Batangas Blades name. With the merger, the team became a stronger squad with Eddie Laure, Jeffrey Sanders and Metrostar superstars 2000 MBA MVP Rommel Adducul
Rommel Adducul
Romel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
and Alex Compton
Alex Compton
Alexander M. Compton is a retired Filipino born-American basketball player who had stints in noted Philippine basketball leagues either as player or assistant coach and is now the national tournament director of the Nokia National Basketball Training Center Developmental League, the grassroots...
. They also added LBC to its team name, making it the LBC Batangas Blades.
The Blades became the team to beat in the Northern Conference, compiling an 11-3 win-loss record in the first phase of the MBA season, but lost to the San Juan Knights in the playoffs. During the second phase of the tournament, which was for the MBA National Championship, the Blades recorded another 11-3 record but this time edged the Knights 3-1 in the Northern Finals to enter their first finals appearance in history. The Blades defeated the Negros Slashers
Negros Slashers
The Negros Slashers also known as the RCPI-Negros Slashers was a former 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...
, 3-1 to win their first MBA national title. Laure was named as the MVP of the 2001 season.
In the 2002 season, Batangas lost Adducul to the returning Pangasinan Waves but made its return trip to the finals after scoring a huge upset over the top team in the North, the Olongapo Volunteers
Olongapo Volunteers
The Olongapo Volunteers was a former professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association in 2002. The Volunteers enjoyed success in their only season in the league, making the semifinals of the tournament.-History:...
, in a one-game match for the finals spot. The Blades then lost to the Slashers via a three-game sweep in the First Conference of the season. The MBA National tournament was played but was later discounted due to the folding of the MBA.
Philippine Basketball League
After the closure of the MBA, Batangas joined the amateur commercial league Philippine Basketball League. The team had Alex Compton and Jeff Sanders, but did not have the old Blades squad they had in the MBA as Laure played for the Welcoat PaintmastersWelcoat Dragons
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association owned by the Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. that debuted in the league in the 2006-07 PBA season. From 1996-2006, it was a member of the semi-professional Philippine Basketball League,...
. Instead, the team added some amateur players on their squad such as St. Benilde Blazers
St. Benilde Blazers
The Saint Benilde Blazers are the NCAA basketball team of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.The Blazers were formerly a member National Capital Region Athletic Association before they applied and were admitted to the NCAA in 1998...
tandem of Al Magpayo and Ronald Capati and NU Bulldog
NU Bulldogs
The National University Bulldogs is the collegiate men's varsity team of National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
Froilan Baguion. The team did retain the LBC-Batangas Blades name as the team placed fourth in the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup. In the 2003 PBL Unity Cup, the Blades did not make it to the semifinals, as the team disbanded for good.
Notable players
- Eddie LaureEddie LaureEddie B. Laure is a Filipino professional basketball player. He last played in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers. Known by many as The Dominator, he is a former MBA MVP...
- Jeffrey Sanders
- Ralph Rivera
- Maui Roca
- Dennis Madrid
- Radel Mapalad
- Rommel AdduculRommel AdduculRomel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
- Alex ComptonAlex ComptonAlexander M. Compton is a retired Filipino born-American basketball player who had stints in noted Philippine basketball leagues either as player or assistant coach and is now the national tournament director of the Nokia National Basketball Training Center Developmental League, the grassroots...
- Stephen Antonio
- Al Magpayo
- Ronald Capati
- Jayson Cuevas
- Froilan Baguion
- Toni Boy Espinosa
- Chico Manabat
- John Ramirez
- Ariel De Castro
- Jayjay HelterbrandJayjay HelterbrandAnthony Jason James Helterbrand , better known as Jayjay Helterbrand, is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
- Paul Reguera
- Harold Sta. Cruz
- Nicole Uy
- MC Caceres
- Chris Corbin
- Oliver Agapito