Iligan Crusaders
Encyclopedia
The Iligan Crusaders are a professional basketball
team based in Iligan City
, Philippines
. They play in the National Basketball Conference
(NBC). The team is currently owned by Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and is currently managed by Frederick Siao.
. He signed Billy Reyes as the head coach of the Iligan Crusaders and acquired key players Jerry Cavan, Mark Kong, DonDon Mendoza, Ryan Dy, Joseph Roque, Adam Baguio and Sammy Ayodelle. The team's hopes in winning the championship were put to a rest when the Ozamiz Cotta knocked them out in the conference finals.
In the finals, the Crusaders routed defending champion Ozamiz Cotta in the first game, 88-83 and then escaped the Cotta's comeback in the second game, 81-73 to capture the NBC Cup. It was Iligan's first ever championship in its history, it was the iligan's pride jeff villabona who scored 14 of his 27 pts on that game putting the name Iligan City to history.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Iligan City
Iligan City
The City of Iligan is a highly urbanized industrial city north of the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately 795 kilometers southeast of Manila...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. They play in the National Basketball Conference
National Basketball Conference
The National Basketball Conference was a regional-based basketball league in the Philippines formed in 2004. The league is sanctioned by the Philippine national sport association for basketball, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. Teams are also sponsored by the local government and sponsors.In...
(NBC). The team is currently owned by Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and is currently managed by Frederick Siao.
1st Season
In 2004, Iligan City decided to join the league as an expansion teamExpansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
. He signed Billy Reyes as the head coach of the Iligan Crusaders and acquired key players Jerry Cavan, Mark Kong, DonDon Mendoza, Ryan Dy, Joseph Roque, Adam Baguio and Sammy Ayodelle. The team's hopes in winning the championship were put to a rest when the Ozamiz Cotta knocked them out in the conference finals.
2nd Season
In the 2005 season, team manager Frederick Siao acquired last season's Most Valuable Player Christian Nicdao,ex-UST Growling Tiger, Frederick Hubalde, ex-UE Red Warrior Ollan Omiping, ex-JRU Heavy Bomber McDonald Santos and former Adamson Falcon Jeff Tajonera, and veterans Melvin Taguines and Marlon Kalaw. Holdovers from their last season squad are Sammy Ayodelle and Dave Sagad and locals Jayzeel Canoy, Adam Baguio and Kim Oliveros. Completing the strong lineup of Iligan are rookies Ferdie Go, Jerson Espinosa, Rey Sumagang ,Miro Pajarilla and alwin ilagan. Despite having a strong start in the season, the Crusaders were unable to win the championship due to their loss to the Iloilo Warriors.3rd Season
In the 2007 season, the Crusaders defeated Iloilo in the semi-final of the NBC Cup and faced Ozamiz in the all-Mindanao best of three finals.In the finals, the Crusaders routed defending champion Ozamiz Cotta in the first game, 88-83 and then escaped the Cotta's comeback in the second game, 81-73 to capture the NBC Cup. It was Iligan's first ever championship in its history, it was the iligan's pride jeff villabona who scored 14 of his 27 pts on that game putting the name Iligan City to history.
Best Home Game
Probably the best home game this year for the Crusaders was when they faced the Ozamiz Cotta on April 25, 2007, on their home floor and won in a 92-90 score on Ferdie Go's last shot with 16 seconds left in regulation.Player Additions
Midpoint in the season, Frederick Siao signed Nat Cruz and Ian Saladaga who were from the Valencia Golden Harvest. He also signed Ronnie Matias who, after playing in the PBL, signed with the Iligan Crusaders. Matias played for the Iligan Crusaders in the second season of the team.Player Subtractions
Mid point in the season, the Crusaders lost 5'10 point guard Arnold Booker Santos due to unknown reasons.Current roster
| Jersey No. | Player | Height | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Ayodelle, Sammy | 6' 2" | Power Forward |
| 5 | Baguio, Adam | 5' 10" | Point Guard |
| 8 | Cabili, Dino | 6' 0" | Shooting Guard |
| 2 | Gatchalian, Timoteo III | 5' 11" | Point Guard |
| 14 | Go, Ferdinand | 6' 2" | Small Forward |
| 10 | Guiyab, Arden | 6' 5" | Center |
| 1 | Hardin, Rich | 6' 0" | Point Guard |
| 13 | Kalaw, Marlon | 5' 10" | Point Guard |
| 6 | Magdadaro, Jose Jr. | 6' 5" | Center |
| 9 | Marata, Romulo | 5' 11" | Shooting Guard |
| 22 | Matias, Ronnie | 6' 4" | Power Forward |
| 21 | Oliveros, losi | 5' 10" | Shooting Guard |
| 15 | Sta. Cruz, Harold | 6' 3" | Power Forward |