Shell Turbo Chargers

Infobox PBA team
color1=yellow
color2=green
name=Shell Turbo Chargers

founded=1985| history=Shell Azodrin Bugbusters
(1985-1986)
Shell Azocord (1986)
Shell Oilers(1987)
Shell Rimula X(1990-1993; 1994-1995)
Shell Helix
(1993)
Formula Shell Super Unleaded
(1987-1989; 1995-1998)
Shell Zoom Masters
(1998-2000)
Shell Velocity
(2000)
Shell Turbo Chargers
(2000-2005)
colors=Blue, Red, Silver, Green, yellow, purple, & white
company=Pilipinas Shell
coach_label=Head coaches
coach=Freddie Webb, Joe Lipa, Dante Silverio, Arlene Rodriguez, Rino Salazar, Chito Narvasa, Perry Ronquilio, John Moran, Leo Austria
titles=4 (1990 Open Conference, 1992 Second Conference, 1998 Governors Cup, 1999 All-Filipino Cup)
withdrew=2004-05
pattern l=_thindarkgreensides|body l=ffff00|shorts l=ffff00
pattern d=_thinyellowsides|body d=008000|shorts d=008000
The Shell Turbo Chargers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team under the ownership of Pilipinas Shell Corporation. Shell has been a member of the PBA since 1985 until 2005 when the team filed for a leave of absence after the season. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints in February 2006.

Shell has won four PBA championships, two of those were from 1998-1999. Aside from the Turbo Chargers moniker, Shell also carried the monikers of Shell Azodrin Bugbusters, Shell Azocord, Shell Oilers, Shell Rimula X, Formula Shell Super Unleaded, and Shell Velocity.

History

Shell acquired the franchise of the famed Crispa Redmanizers in 1985 for a reported two million peso deal. In Shell's first season, the team was dubbed as the Bugbusters and acquired several remnants of the Crispa franchise in William "Bogs" Adornado, Philip Cezar and Bernie Fabiosa under head coach Freddie Webb.Shell got its first All Filipino finals berth against Great Taste when they defeated Gilbey's Gin.

The teams' rise to fame came during the late-1980s when they were bannered by two University of the Philippines, Diliman standouts Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras to solidify Shell as one of the popular teams in the pro league.

Paras is also the only PBA cager to ever win the Rookie of the Year and the coveted Most Valuable Player plum in the same season when the slotman won it all in 1989.

In the 1990 PBA Open Conference, Shell won its first-ever PBA championship defeating crowd-favorite Añejo Rhum 4-2. But the series was marred by Anejo's infamous walkout in the sixth and final game of the series to award the Shell the win in Game six and the series clincher.

At that time, Shell was bannered by import Bobby Parks, who holds seven Best Import Awards in his PBA career, most of them with the Shell franchise.

A year later, Shell suffered one of the biggest collapses in PBA finals history during the 1991 PBA First Conference, when they blew a 3-1 series lead in the series eventually losing to arch-rival Ginebra in seven games on a Rudy Distrito game-winner.

Shell won the 1992 PBA Second Conference crown but waited six years before winning another PBA crown by capturing the 1998 Governor's Cup, defeating the Mobiline Phone Pals in seven games.

Their final championship was during the 1999 PBA All-Filipino Conference defeating heavy favorite Tanduay Rhum in six games. Shell was bannered by Paras, Gerry Esplana, Victor Pablo, Chris Jackson and Noy Castillo as one of their primary players under head coach Perry Ronquilio.

1999 also became a banner year for Paras, who won his second Most Valuable Player award in his career, despite the arrival of several talented Filipino-foreigner cagers during the said campaign. However, injuries in the next three seasons forced the so-called "Tower of Power" to retire after the 2003 season.

Shell suffered several slumps in the next four seasons (2000-2003) before resurfacing in during the 2004-2005 season as one of the contenders for the PBA crown. Under head coach Leo Austria (who won the Rookie of the Year honors in 1985 as a player for Shell), the Turbo Chargers placed fourth in the PBA Philippine Cup and third in the season-ending 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference.

Disbandment

During the 2004-05 PBA season, Shell was rumored to disband after the said season due to the fact that their mother company, Royal Dutch Shell in the The Netherlands feels that it is not feasible for them to maintain a franchise in the PBA.

With this, port company Harbour Centre was also rumored to purchase the rights of the Shell franchise. However, both parties did not come into an agreement as Harbour Centre wanted a cheaper price than what Shell wanted. On August 3, 2005, Shell announced that it will take a leave of absence from the league.

Prior to the announcement, Shell traded most of its core members to a number of teams. Tony Dela Cruz and Rich Alvarez were dealt to the Alaska Aces while Ronald Tubid was sent to the Air21 Express. The remaining members of the team were selected through the dispersal draft.

Shell was given a six-month deadline for the team to either return to the league in the next PBA season or sell the team to a prospective buyer. On January 2006, PBL powerhouse Welcoat Paints bought the squad for a reported 30-40 million pesos and entered the league in the 2006-07 PBA season

Players of note

PBA 25 greatest players

* William "Bogs" Adornado- played for Shell in its inaugural year
* Philip Cezar #18 - "The Sultan of Swat"/"The Scholar"/"Mr. Stretch"/"King Philip" played for Shell in its inaugural year
* Bernie Fabiosa #15 - "The Sultan of Swipe"/"Fabulous" played for Shell in its inaugural year
* Abet Guidaben #41 - final team he played before ending his PBA career
* Freddie Hubalde #10 - played for Shell in 1989.
* Ronnie Magsanoc #5 - "The Point Laureate" led Shell to two championships, many time All-Star and Mythical team selections
* Benjie Paras #14 - "The Tower of Power" is a 2-time PBA MVP, only player to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season (1989)

Other notable players

* Dennis Abbatuan #30
* Eric Altamirano #11
* Paul Alvarez #88 - "Mr. Excitement"
* Romy Ang
* Rich Alvarez - 2004-05 Rookie of the Year with Shell
* Leo Austria #13 & 58 - 1985 Rookie of the Year with Shell
* Gido Babilonia † #25
* Dickie Bognot #24
* Sonny Cabatu #5
* Glenn Capacio #12
* Noy Castillo - Member of the 1998 and 1999 championship teams
* Tim Coloso #32
* Ed Cordero #3
* Rey Cuenco † #15 & 25
* Onchie dela Cruz #9
* Tony dela Cruz - Mythical Second Team member in 2004-05
* Romy dela Rosa #12 - the 3rd scoring option behind Paras & Magsanoc from 1989-1993.
* Ed Ducut #19
* Jolly Escobar #32
* Gerry Esplana #14 - Member of the 1998 and 1999 championship teams
* Aris Franco #9 - the PBA's oldest rookie drafted in 1990 at the age of 33.
* Allan Garrido
* Joey Guanio #6
* Pol Herrera
* Leo Isaac #9
* Chris Jackson - Many time Defensive Player of the Year winner
* Elmer Lago #3
* Ronnie Lazaro
* Alejandro Lim
* Jojo Lim
* Joey Loyzaga #17
* Ronnie Lucero #31
* John Billy Mamaril
* Romy Mamaril #4
* Totoy Marquez #71
* Jojo Martin #10
* Porferio Marzan
* Jose Maria Mendoza
* Peter Naron
* Victor Pablo #33 - Member of the 1998 and 1999 championship teams
* Addy Papa - Son of Basketball Legend, 2 time olympian Adriano "Jun" Papa/The Rifleman
* Willie Pearson
* Giovani Pineda
* Toby Poblador #20
* Jay Ramirez
* Biboy Ravanes #11
* Ricky Relosa #15
* Jing Ruiz #8
* Rommel Santos
* Mark Telan - 2001 PBA Most Improved Player with the Turbo Chargers
* Ritchie Ticzon
* Arnie Tuadles † #11
* Calvin Tuadles #33
* Manny Victorino #1
* Jojo Villapando

Imports

* Rich Adams
* Dwight "Lightning" Anderson
* Vincent Askew
* John Best - Member of the 1998 Governor's Cup championship team
* Stewart Granger
* Andy Grosvenor
* Clark Randall
* Askia Jones
* Bobby Parks- Seven-time PBA Best Import
* Kenny Redfield - led Shell to the 1996 Commissioners Cup final after a buzzer-beating three-pointer against Ginebra.
* Derrick Rowland
* Dexter Shouse
* Kelvin Upshaw
* Donald Williams - Member of the 1998 Governor's Cup championship team
* Kevin Williams
* Jameel Watkins
* Michael Morrison 3 seasons averaged 40 plus

Coaches

* Senator Freddie Webb
* Dante Silverio
* Bobby Parks
* Arlene Rodriguez
* Rino Salazar
* Joe Lipa
* Chito Narvasa
* John Moran
* Perry Ronquillo
* Leo Austria

General Managers

* Charlie Favis
* Ramon (Mao) Vergel De Dios
* Jimmy Ayson
* Bobby Villarosa
* Bobby Kanapi
PBA