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Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024 Zamboanga Master Sardines season
Zamboanga Master Sardines logo
League MPBL (2018–present)
FilBasket (2022)
Founded2019; 5 years ago (2019)
History Zamboanga Valientes
2018
Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
2019–2023
Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024–present
ArenaMayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum
Location Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur
Team colors     
Head coach Louie Alas
Conference titles MPBL: 1 ( 2022)

The Zamboanga Master Sardines, officially known as Master Sardines Zamboanga, [1] are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are the lone team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula region and play their home games at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur.

The team's establishment is unique from other MPBL teams, in that it was formed via a split from the Zamboanga Valientes. Due to undisclosed management issues, the split took into effect as the year 2019 began, forming the current Zamboanga franchise. [2] They have also played in Filbasket and in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

Initially named the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (sometimes shorterned to ZFAMS), the team is sponsored by Universal Canning Inc. which owns both the Family's Brand Sardines and Master Sardines brands. [3] The name also doubles as a reference to Zamboanga City being the "Sardines Capital of the Philippines".

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Former logo of the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.

2018–2020: The Arboleda era

Led by Harold Arboleda and Reed Juntilla, the Zamboanga franchise would finish the 2018–19 season as the sixth seed in the South Division. The team would upset the third-seeded Muntinlupa Cagers in three games in the Division Quarterfinals. Despite winning game 1 of the Division Semifinals, Zamboanga would lose to the defending champion Batangas City Athletics in the next two games. In the succeeding 2019–20 season, with the addition of Alvin Pasaol, Zamboanga improved from their 12–13 record to move up 18–12. In the playoffs, as the fifth seed, Zamboanga would get their revenge on Batangas City by beating them in three games in the Division Quarterfinals. In the Division Semifinals, however, they would lose to the eventual champion Davao Occidental Tigers.

Zamboanga initially announced that it would not participate in the succeeding season and would decide on their status in the MPBL by 2022. [4]

2022–present: The Twin Turbo era and first division championship

The team opted out of the 2021 Invitational, but did eventually compete in the 2022 season, changing the team's prior decision. That season saw the arrival of the Marcelino twins, Jaycee Marcelino and Jayvee. [5] The "Twin Turbo" would help lead Zamboanga to their best regular season record to date, as the top seed in the South with an 18–3 record. Zamboanga then booked its first MPBL Finals appearance after beating the Batangas City Embassy Chill in the South Division Finals. [6] In the 2022 MPBL Finals, Zamboanga lost to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in four games. [7] They would lose to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in four games in the National Finals series.

Zamboanga then took part in the 2023 Preseason Invitational, which they would end up winning after their Finals victory against Nueva Ecija. They would then record their winningest season to date, 20–8, although they would fall down to the fourth seed. After beating the expansion Quezon Huskers in three games, they division title defense came to an end after getting swept by the Bacoor City Strikers.

In 2024, the team changed their team name to Zamboanga Master Sardines.

Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3

Family's Brand Sardines joined the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, debuting in the 2020-21 season. For the President's Cup, they fielded a roster filled with national 3x3 players; Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, Santi Santillan. The decision was made as part of the preparation of the Philippine national team for their participation in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for the 2020 Summer Olympics. [8] The team won the President's Cup title, winning four of five legs including the Grand Final, which granted the team of a spot at the Doha Masters of the 2020 FIBA 3x3 World Tour. [9] [10] [11]

Current roster

Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 1 Strait, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
2 Barcuma, Rey Joey
G 3 Ignacio, Choi (HG) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) National-U
G 4 Nayve, Robi 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) St. Benilde
G 6 Subido, Renzo 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 135 lb (61 kg) 1996–02–17 UST
F 8 Publico, Rey 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1992–11–29 Letran
F 9 Alas, Ken 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) San Beda
G 11 Marcelino, Jaycee 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 1995–10–19 Lyceum
F 14 Apolonio, Jayson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) DMMMSU
F 16 Santos, Adrian 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–04–18 UE
G 19 Marcelino, Jayvee 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Lyceum
C 22 Gabayni, Joseph 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1994–09–28 Lyceum
G 23 Celestino, Rayzon (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
C 24 Omega, Mark 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) UPHSD
G 25 Terso, Joseph 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1990–05–18 National-U
F 28 Jaime, Chito 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1983–10–21 AMA
F 31 Tansingco, Ralph 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Lyceum
C 41 Solis, Jayboy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Olivarez
C 91 Fuentes, King Rodney (HG) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Emilio Aguinaldo
G 99 Mahari, John (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Arnold Contorno
  • Gilbert Castillo
  • Francis Allen
  • Caesar Polhen

Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • Injured Injured

Updated as of: April 6, 2024

Head coaches

Zamboanga Master Sardines head coaches
2018–present
# Name Start End Regular Season Playoffs Best Finish Achievements
GC W L Win% GC W L Win%
1 Ednie Morones 2018 2019 15 4 11 .267 0 0 0
2 Raymund Valenzona 2019 2020 16 11 5 .688 6 3 3 .500 Division Semifinals 6th/13
3 Bai Cristobal 2020 2020 14 10 4 .714 0 0 0
4 Britt Reroma 2020 2021 10 5 5 .500 5 2 3 .400 Division Semifinals 5th/15
5 Vic Ycasiano 2022 2023 21 18 3 .857 8 6 2 .750 Division Champions 1st/11

Notable players

Zamboanga Master Sardines notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Reed Juntilla 2018–2020 1 ( 2019)
Harold Arboleda 2018–2020 1x All-MPBL Second Team ( 2019)
Alvin Pasaol 2019–2020 1 ( 2020)
Jaycee Marcelino 2022–present 1x Most Valuable Player ( 2022)
2x All-MPBL First Team ( 2022, 2023)
2 ( 2022, 2023)
Joseph Gabayni 2023–present 1 ( 2023)

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
2018–19
Datu Cup
South 6th 25 12 13 .480 8 First Round
Division Semifinals
won vs. Muntinlupa, 2–1
lost vs. Batangas City, 1–2
2019–20
Lakan Season
South 5th 30 18 12 .600 8 First Round
Division Semifinals
won vs. Batangas City, 2–1
lost vs. Davao Occidental, 0–2
2022 South 1st 21 18 3 .857 First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals
National Finals
won vs. Muntinlupa, 2–0
won vs. Bacolod, 2–1
won vs. Batangas City, 2–1
lost vs. Nueva Ecija, 1–3
2023 South 4th 28 20 8 .714 3 First Round
Division Semifinals
won vs. Quezon, 2–1
lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2
Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024 South To be determined
All-time regular season record 104 68 36 .654 4 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 28 14 14 .500 1 Finals appearance
All-time overall record 132 82 50 .621 0 championships

References

  1. ^ "Eyes here mga ka-MASTER!". Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Facebook.
  2. ^ Go, R.G. Antonet (December 29, 2018). "'Valientes' to be re-launched as Zambo Family's Brand Sardines". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  3. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (April 22, 2020). "Zamboanga-Family's Brand Sardines gives back to MPBL day-to-day staff". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Li, Matthew (March 19, 2021). "Zamboanga-FBS to skip next MPBL season". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "MPBL crowns Jaycee Marcelino MVP". Tiebreaker Times. December 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Zamboanga snatches MPBL South division title". Rappler. November 27, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nueva Ecija finishes off Zamboanga in Game 4 to lift MPBL trophy". Spin.ph. December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "PH men's 3x3 team backed". Manila Standard. October 22, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "3X3: Zamboanga City takes Chooks-to-Go 3×3 crown". ABS-CBN News. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Zamboanga boys hoist 3x3 hoops crown". BusinessMirror. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  11. ^ Leongson, Randolph (November 2, 2020). "Munzon, Pasaol and Co. take on world's best 3x3 teams in Doha Masters". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 3, 2020.