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Zamboanga Master Sardines

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Not to be confused with Bacolod Master Sardines, now known as Bacolod City of Smiles.

Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024 Zamboanga Master Sardines season
Zamboanga Master Sardines logo
LeagueMPBL (2018–present)
FilBasket (2022)
Founded2019; 5 years ago (2019)
HistoryZamboanga Valientes
2018
Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
2019–2023
Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024–present
ArenaMayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum
LocationZamboanga City
Team colors     
Head coachLouie Alas
Conference titlesMPBL: 1 (2022)

The Zamboanga Master Sardines, officially known as Master Sardines Zamboanga,[1] are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Zamboanga City. 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.

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.[3]

History

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Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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2018–2020: The Arboleda era

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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

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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

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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]

Team identity

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Former logo of the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.

Name

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The name has a double meaning, not only referring to the products of Universal Canning Inc., which owns both the Family's Brand Sardines and Master Sardines brands, but also as a reference to Zamboanga City being referred to as the "Sardines Capital of the Philippines".

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When the franchise split from the Valientes, the logo carried over to the new ZFAMS team, which shared elements with the Valientes' logo.

In 2024, alongside the announcement of the name change to Master Sardines, a logo-making contest was also announced to create the new identity. The new logo was later shown on February 22, 2024. Created by Ritche Faustorilla Ocampo, it features a sardine holding a basketball with a gold outline.[12]

Rivalries

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Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters

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Zamboanga and Batangas City have faced each other in the playoffs in three consecutive occasions from 2019 to 2022, all of which went the full three games. Zamboanga won the series in both 2020 and in 2022. As of 2023, the two teams have met a total of thirteen times in the MPBL.

Current roster

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Zamboanga Master Sardines 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
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
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
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
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured
Updated as of: December 1, 2024

Head coaches

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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

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Individual award winners

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MPBL All-Star Day

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PBA players

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Season-by-season records

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League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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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 Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals		 won vs. Muntinlupa, 2–1
lost vs. Batangas City, 1–2
2019–20
Lakan Season		 South 5th 30 18 12 .600 8 Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals		 won vs. Batangas City, 2–1
lost vs. Davao Occidental, 0–2
2022 South 1st 21 18 3 .857 — Division quarterfinals
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 Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals		 won vs. Quezon, 2–1
lost vs. Bacoor City, 0–2
Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024 South 4th 28 20 8 .714 1 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Parañaque, 1–2
All-time regular season record 132 88 44 .667 5 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 31 15 16 .484 1 finals appearance
All-time overall record 163 103 60 .632 0 championships

References

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  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.
  12. ^ "Introducing… Our team logo for the upcoming MPBL 2024 regular season!!!". Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines. February 22, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Facebook.
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