The Casino Filipino Cycling Team, the country’s first-ever professional and pioneering trade team (Continental team), was launched in December 2003 by Mr. Ric Rodriguez, with Luis Carlos serving as team manager.
The team played a crucial role in Philippine cycling history, featuring a roster composed of national team members and enlisted personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to wit: Victor Espiritu, Lloyd Reynante, Alfie Catalan, Ronald Gorantes , Merculio Ramos, Villamor Baluyot, Rhyan Tanguilig and Albert Primero.
Serving as a breeding ground for top cyclists, the Casino Filipino Cycling Team produced riders who later transitioned to professional teams.
Notably, three of its members went on to join what is now known as 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines, a team founded by Engineer Pablito “Bong” Sual in 2009. The formation of this squad was influenced by Mark Guevarra (now known as Mark Galedo) after his championship victory in the Tour of Luzon in 2009. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines officially attained continental status, securing its place among the elite teams in Asian cycling.
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