Shell Turbo Chargers

The Shell Turbo Chargers were a Philippine Basketball Association team from 1985 to 2005. It won four PBA championships, two from 1998-1999. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints in February 2006.

Shell Turbo Chargers
Founded1985
HistoryShell Azodrin Bugbusters (1985–1986)
Shell Oilers (1986)
Shell Helix Oilers (1986, 1988, 1993–1994)
Formula Shell Spark Aiders (1986–1987)
Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters (1987)
Shell Rimula X Diesel Oilers (1988)
Formula Shell Zoom Masters (1989–1990, 1995–1999)
Shell Rimula X (1990–1993, 1994–1995)
Formula Shell Gas Kings (1995)
Shell Velocity (1999–2000)
Shell Turbo Chargers (2000–2005)
Team colorsBlue, Red, Silver, Green, Yellow, Purple, & White
CompanyPilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation
Head coachFreddie Webb, Ed Ocampo, Joe Lipa, Dante Silverio, Arlene Rodriguez, Rino Salazar, Chito Narvasa, Perry Ronquilio, John Moran, Leo Austria, Bobby Parks
OwnershipPilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation
Championships4 championships

1990 First Conference
1992 First Conference
1998 Governors'
1999 All-Filipino

9 Finals Appearances
Retired numbers1 (14)
Light uniform
Dark uniform
Alternate

Aside from being known as the Turbo Chargers, Shell was also known as Shell Azodrin Bugbusters, Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters, Shell Oilers, Shell Rimula X, Formula Shell Zoom Masters, Shell Helix Oilers and Shell Velocity.

History

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation acquired the franchise of the famed Crispa Redmanizers in 1985 for a reported sum of two million pesos. In its debut season, the team was known as Shell Azodrin Bugbusters under head coach Freddie Webb, with several Crispa players, namely, Philip Cezar and Bernie Fabiosa, in addition to a former Crispa Redmanizer William Bogs Adornado (from Great Taste). Shell got its first All Filipino finals berth against Great Taste when they defeated Ginebra in a rubber match.

The following season in 1986, Shell carried the name Pilipinas Shell Oilers, Shell Helix and Formula Shell Spark Aiders, respectively, with Olympian Ed Ocampo taking over from Freddie Webb, who resigned as Shell coach midway in the semifinals of the first conference. Shell remained a hard-luck team with national coach Joe Lipa, becoming Shell's third coach in 1987 3rd conference, as the team was now known as Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters.

The team's rise to fame came during the late-1980s when they were bannered by two U.P. Diliman standouts Ronnie Magsanoc and Benjie Paras to solidify Shell as one of the more popular teams in the pro league. Former Toyota mentor Dante Silverio was also responsible for transforming Shell to a championship-caliber ballclub.

Paras is also the only PBA player to win the Rookie of the Year and the coveted Most Valuable Player plum in the same season when the center 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 Añejo'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 reinforced 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 Ginebra in seven games on a Rudy Distrito game-winner.

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

Their final championship came 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 players during the same season. However, injuries in the next three seasons forced Paras to retire after the 2003 season.

Shell suffered several slumps in the next four seasons (2000-2003) before resurfacing 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 be disbanding after the season because its mother company, Royal Dutch Shell in the Netherlands believed it was no longer feasible to continue maintaining its PBA team.

It was believed that port company Harbour Centre was planning to purchase the rights of the Shell franchise. However, both parties did not come into an agreement as Harbour Centre was offering less than what Shell wanted. On August 3, 2005, Shell announced that it was taking a leave of absence from the league. Before the announcement, Shell traded away most of its players. 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 acquired the franchise for and entered the league in the 2006-07 PBA season

Season-by-season records
Legend
     Champion
     Runner-up
     Semifinalist

Three-conference era
SeasonConferenceTeam nameOverall recordFinals
WL%
1985Open ConferenceShell Azodrin Bugbusters1632.333
All-Filipino ConferenceGreat Taste 3, Shell 1
Reinforced Conference
1986Reinforced ConferenceShell Helix / Formula Shell2032.385
All-Filipino Conference
Open Conference
1987Open ConferenceFormula Shell / Shell Azocord1836.333
All-Filipino Conference
Reinforced Conference
1988Open ConferenceShell Helix / Shell Rimula X1629.356
All-Filipino Conference
Reinforced ConferenceSan Miguel 4, Shell 1
1989Open ConferenceFormula Shell Zoom Masters2730.474San Miguel 4, Shell 1
All-Filipino Conference
Reinforced Conference
1990First Conference3521.625Shell 4, Añejo 2
All-Filipino Conference
Third Conference
1991First ConferenceShell Rimula X2325.479Ginebra 4, Shell 3
All-Filipino Conference
Third Conference
1992First Conference2727.500Shell 4, San Miguel 1
All-Filipino Conference
Third Conference
1993All-Filipino CupShell Helix1429.326
Commissioner's Cup
Governors Cup
1994All-Filipino CupShell Rimula X2030.400
Commissioner's Cup
Governors Cup
1995All-Filipino CupFormula Shell Zoom Masters2034.370
Commissioner's Cup
Governors Cup
1996All-Filipino Cup3332.508
Commissioner's CupAlaska 4, Shell 3
Governors Cup
1997All-Filipino CupFormula Shell Zoom Masters1531.326
Commissioner's Cup
Governors Cup
1998All-Filipino Cup3130.508
Commissioner's Cup
Centennial CupMobiline 1, Shell 0
Governors CupShell 4, Mobiline 3
1999All-Filipino CupFormula Shell / Shell Velocity3224.571Shell 4, Tanduay 2
Commissioner's CupSan Miguel 4, Shell 2
Governors Cup
2000All-Filipino Cup510.375
Commissioner's Cup36.333
Governors Cup18.111
2001All-Filipino CupShell Turbo Chargers1210.545
Commissioner's Cup37.300
Governors Cup109.526
2002Governors Cup29.273
Commissioner's Cup47.364
All-Filipino Cup46.400
2003All-Filipino Cup513.277
Invitational Conference22.500
Reinforced Conference310.230
Overall record401530.4314 championships

Two-conference era
SeasonConferenceTeam nameElim./Clas. roundPlayoffs
FinishWL%StageResults
(2004)Fiesta ConferenceShell Turbo Chargers8th711.389Wildcard phaseRed Bull 83, Shell 82
2004-05Philippine Cup3rd126.6672nd-seed playoff
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd-place playoff		Talk 'N Text 85, Shell 79
Shell 2, Purefoods 1
Talk 'N Text 3, Shell 0
San Miguel 105, Shell 100
Fiesta Conference9th711.389Wildcard phase
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd-place playoff		Shell def. Sta. Lucia**, 84–75, 95–85
Shell 2, Purefoods 0
Talk 'N Text 3, Shell 1
Shell 102, Red Bull 86
Elimination round2628.4822 post-wildcard appearances
Playoffs810.4440 championships

*one-game playoffs
**team had twice-to-beat advantage

Cumulative records
EraWLPCT
Three-conference era (1985–2003)401530.431
Two-conference era (2004–2005)3438.472
Total435568.434

Players of note

PBA 25 greatest players
  • William "Bogs" Adornado #33 - 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"/"The Navigator" 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

Imports

Coaches

General Managers
  • Ernesto Inocencio
  • Charlie Favis
  • Ramon (Mao) Vergel De Dios
  • Jimmy Ayson
  • Bobby Villarosa
  • Bobby Kanapi
Preceded by
Crispa Redmanizers		 PBA teams genealogies
1985-2005		 Succeeded by
Welcoat Dragons
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