Zamboanga Master Sardines

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

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. The team plays its home games at Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum.

Zamboanga Master Sardines
2024 Zamboanga Master Sardines season
League	MPBL (2019–present) FilBasket (2022)
Founded	2019; 6 years ago (2019)
History	Zamboanga Valientes 2018 Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines 2019–2023 Zamboanga Master Sardines 2024–present
Arena	Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum
Location	Zamboanga City
Team colors
Head coach	Louie Alas
Conference titles	MPBL: 1 (2022)

The team is a spiritual successor to the Zamboanga Valientes, after its MPBL side was split due to undisclosed management issues. The split took into effect as 2019 began, forming the current Zamboanga franchise.^[2] They have also played in Filbasket and in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

The Master Sardines are one of four teams based in Mindanao and the only one from the Zamboanga Peninsula region. Initially named the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (ZFAMS), the team is sponsored by Universal Canning Inc. since its establishment.^[3]

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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 decided their status in the MPBL on 2022.^[4]

2022–2024: 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. For the 2024 season, the team changed their team name to Zamboanga Master Sardines. Despite matching their previous record from last season and making the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, the team suffered its first division quarterfinals exit after losing to the Parañaque Patriots in three games. After this season, the Marcelino twins would leave Zamboanga for Nueva Ecija.

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]

Team identity

Former logo of the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.

Name

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".

Logo

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

Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters

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

Zamboanga Master Sardines roster

• v
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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 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 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 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

Head coach Louie Alas 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 Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: January 20, 2025

Head coaches

Zamboanga Master Sardines head coaches
#	Name	Start	End	Achievements	Ref.
1	Ednie Morones	2018	2019	—
2	Raymund Valenzona	2019	2020	—
3	Bai Cristobal	2020	2020	—
4	Britt Reroma	2020	2021	—
5	Vic Ycasiano	2022	2023	Division champion (2022)

Notable players

Individual award winners

MPBL Most Valuable Player Jaycee Marcelino – 2022

All-MPBL First Team Jaycee Marcelino – 2022, 2023

All-MPBL Second Team Harold Arboleda

MPBL All-Star Day

All-Star selections Reed Juntilla – 2019 Alvin Pasaol – 2020 Jaycee Marcelino – 2022–2024 Joseph Gabayni – 2023 Choi Ignacio – 2024

PBA players

Ex-PBA players Harold Arboleda Reden Celda (returned to PBA) Bong Galanza Chito Jaime Reed Juntilla Jaycee Marcelino Rey Publico Raphy Reyes Renzo Subido Hans Thiele

Drafted to PBA Aaron Black – 18th overall, 2019 Leonard Santillan – 5th overall, season 46 Alvin Pasaol – 9th overall, season 46 Anton Asistio – 22nd overall, season 46

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	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

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.