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 M ...

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 to 1989, first with coach

Yeng Guiao Joseller "Yeng" Medina Guiao (born March 19, 1959) is a Filipino professional basketball head coach, politician, commentator and sports commissioner. He is currently the head coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketba ...

and with borrowed players

Jojo Lastimosa Isabelo "Jojo" Lastimosa Jr. (born March 10, 1964) is a Filipino professional basketball coach and former player. He is the team manager for the TNT Tropang 5G of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played in the PBA for the Purefo ...

and Peter Aguilar from Converse-Lhuillier and Nelson Asaytono 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 and with

Alvin Patrimonio Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio (born November 17, 1966) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots. Patrimonio holds several PBA r ...

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

Ato Agustin Renato "Ato" 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 mov ...

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