The players includes Rodriguez' former wards at San Sebastian College during the 1980s; Eugene Quilban, Allan Garrido, Melchor Teves and Armoni Llagas.
Davao started out the inaugural season with five straight victories, with three of its wins, two by buzzer beaters and one via overtime against Manila, 90-86.
On June 2, 1999, the Davao Eagles were crowned the Southern Conference Mindanao division champions following a smashing 89-75 conquest of SocSarGen Marlins at the RMC gym.
[4] In the MBA's third season in 2000, Davao finished second and a game behind Cebu Gems in the Southern Conference with nine wins and three losses.
The Eagles finished with four wins and ten losses in the second phase and were swept in two games by the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the semifinals.