The Iloilo United Royals are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Iloilo.[1][2] 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 Western Visayas region and play their home games at Passi City Arena in Passi.
| Iloilo United Royals | |
|---|---|
 2024 Iloilo United Royals season | |
 | |
| League | MPBL (2019-present) |
| Founded | 2019 |
| History | Iloilo United Royals 2019–present |
| Arena | Passi City Arena |
| Location | Passi, Iloilo |
| Team colors | |
| Main sponsor | Bagong Kalibo |
| Head coach | MC Abolucion |
The team joined the league in the 2019–20 season.
History
editJJ Javelosa, who would later own the team, and basketball coach Nash Racela conceived of an idea for an Iloilo team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) while playing golf. Racela brought in his co-coach Eric Gonzales to the nascent team. Javelosa, would have tapped his son Jay, who was then playing college basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, while Racela would have recruited from his varsity FEU Tamaraws team. MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao approved of the plan, but was almost shelved when a sponsor backed out. The elder Javelosa eventually found new sponsors, and named the team the Iloilo United Royals.[3]
In the Royals' inaugural season, the team qualified to the playoffs in its debut season, finishing 18–12, claiming the sixth seed in the South. In the First Round, the team was eliminated by the Basilan Steel in the South Division First Round.[4][5]
In the 2021 MPBL Invitational, the team was drawn into Group A alongside the other Visayas teams – Bacolod and Negros – and finished second, placing them into the playoff tournament. The team would go on to lose to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the Quarterfinals.[6][7] Iloilo then opted out of the 2022 MPBL season, with Javelosa stating that they took a leave of absence as they were uncertain that the MPBL will hold a tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.[8]
The Royals were announced to be one of the teams returning to the MPBL in time for the 2023 season.[9] Manu Inigo replaced Eric Gonzales as coach, with Cocolife as the principal sponsor.[8]
Team identity
editThe name is meant to represent the province of Iloilo, "United" represents unity among the Ilonggo people, while "Royals" references Iloilo City.
Current roster
edit| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated as of: April 9, 2024 |
Head coaches
edit- Eric Gonzales (2019–2021)[10]
- Manu Inigo (2023)[11]
- MC Abolucion (2023–present)
Notable players
editMPBL All-Star Day
edit
|
PBA players
edit
|
Season-by-season records
edit| League champions | |
| Division champions | |
| Qualified for playoffs | |
| Best regular season record |
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | GB | Stage | Results | |
| Iloilo United Royals | |||||||||
| 2019–20 Lakan Season |
South | 6th | 30 | 18 | 12 | .600 | 8 | Division quarterfinals | lost vs. Basilan, 0–2 |
| Did not participate in 2022 | |||||||||
| 2023 | South | 8th | 28 | 12 | 16 | .429 | 11 | Division quarterfinals | lost vs. Bacoor City, 1–2 |
| 2024 | South | 9th | 28 | 11 | 17 | .393 | 10 | Did not qualify | |
| All-time regular season record | 86 | 41 | 45 | .477 | 2 playoff appearances | ||||
| All-time playoff record | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | 0 Finals appearances | ||||
| All-time overall record | 91 | 42 | 49 | .462 | 0 championships | ||||
References
edit- ^ Leobert Julian A. de la Peña (December 2, 2021). "Iloilo United Royals reveal roster for 2021 MPBL Invitational". Daily Guardian. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Rick Olivares (November 13, 2019). "Iloilo Royals look to continue win streak vs Pasig in MPBL". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Olivares, Rick (December 16, 2019). "A love for the game and the region | Rick Olivares". BusinessMirror. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Allyn Bulanadi leads Basilan past Iloilo and into MPBL division semifinals". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Ivan Saldajeno (February 25, 2020). "Bulanadi takes over in clutch as Basilan clinches playoff series against Iloilo". dugout.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Randolph B. Leongson (December 22, 2021). "Nueva Ecija overcomes Iloilo to reach MPBL Invitational semis". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Guardian, Daily (December 22, 2021). "Iloilo falls to Nueva Ecija in MPBL Invitational quarterfinals". Daily Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "Iloilo United Royals set for 2023 MPBL return". www.panaynews.net. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Adrian Stewart Co (January 25, 2023). "Iloilo United Royals set for 2023 MPBL return". Panay News. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Quezon Huskers temper expectations as new MPBL team". The Philippine Star. February 21, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ Adrian Stewart Co (February 16, 2023). "Ilonggo Sumido banners United Royals in MPBL". Watchmen Daily Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Pressreader.com.