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Manila Batang Sampaloc

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"Manila Stars" redirects here. For the defunct MBA team, see Manila Metrostars.

Manila Batang Sampaloc
2024 Manila Batang Sampaloc season
Manila Batang Sampaloc logo
LeagueMPBL (2018–present)
PSL (2022–2024)
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
HistoryManila Stars
2018–2024 (MPBL)
Manila CityStars
2022–present (PSL)
Manila Batang Sampaloc
2024–present (MPBL)
ArenaSan Andres Sports Complex
Paco Arena
LocationSampaloc, Manila
Team colors     
Main sponsorStrong Group Athletics
Awesam Smile
Head coachAriel Vanguardia

The Manila Batang Sampaloc, officially referred to as Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Manila district of Sampaloc. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are the lone representative of Metro Manila's Capital District and split their home games between San Andres Sports Complex in the district of Malate and Paco Arena in Paco Manila, Paco.

The team was founded as an expansion team for the 2018–19 MPBL season as the Manila Stars. The team also competed in the Pilipinas Super League since 2022 under the name Manila CityStars.

History

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Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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2019–2020: The Bitoon–Dionisio era

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The nation's capital joined the MPBL for the 2018–19 season, and in its first season, made an instant impact. Led by the duo of Chris Bitoon and Aris Dionisio, the team finished 20–5, tying with San Juan and Davao Occidental for the league's third-best record, as the Stars clinch the fourth seed in the 2019 playoffs. After getting past Caloocan in the First Round, they met with the league-leading Bataan Risers in the North Division Semifinals. Although Bataan won game 1, Manila pushed through the next two games to finish the upset and advance to the North Division Finals against San Juan. The series went in a similar way but in the opposite manner, as Manila won game 1 but with San Juan winning the next two to advance to the National Finals and eventually win the championship. At the end of the season, Dionisio won MPBL Defensive Player of the Year. He and Bitoon were also selected to the All-MPBL First Team and declared all-stars.[1]

Manila came back stronger for the 2019–20 season, finishing 25–5, clinching the second seed in the 2020 playoffs. The team first beat Pasig in the First Round, but feel short in the Division Semifinals against Makati. Once again, Manila won game 1, yet Makati won the rest of the series. Dionisio became a two-time all-star while he and Bitoon both made the All-MPBL Second Team.[2]

2021–2023: Out of contention

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For the 2021 Invitational, Manila tapped Pocholo Villanueva as their head coach, but only finished third in Group D, failing to make the playoffs. Villanueva would later depart for the Batangas City Embassy Chill.[3] Following the departures of both Bitoon and Dionisio, Manila spent the next two seasons missing the playoffs, finishing 6–15 and 4–23 in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively.

2024–present: Return to form

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In the 2024 season, the team gained the backing of the Strong Group Athletics organization, and would later be renamed as the Manila Batang Sampaloc, or officially, the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA. Their 2024 campaign is noted for their acquisition of four-time PBA champion Greg Slaughter among other ex-PBA players.[4] With their new acquisitions, the team finished the season 20–8 for their best output since 2020 and once again claiming a top-4 position. Slaughter and Rabeh Al-Hussaini were declared all-stars in the 2024 MPBL All-Star Game.

However, despite that, Manila fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in a division quarterfinals sweep, with both games being separated by one point. After the series, the organization stated that they are unsure if they will return for the 2025 MPBL season, citing financial difficulties and "uneven officiating".[5][6]

Pilipinas Super League

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The Stars came to the PSL for the 2022 DUMPER Cup during the MPBL's off-season. Finishing 9–6 in the conference, Manila tied with Boracay and Bulacan for seventh. The team managed to settle for eighth but lost to the San Juan Kings in the quarterfinals.

Team identity

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The original Stars name can be traced back to the Manila Metrostars of the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. The team's logos until 2023 featured silhouettes of some of Manila's historic landmarks, such as the Rizal Monument and Manila Cathedral. Manila's color scheme has always used blue as the primary color.

Home venues

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The Manila franchise has played most of their home games at San Andres Sports Complex since joining the MPBL. In 2022 and 2024, a portion of their home slate was played at Paco Arena.

Venue Location 2018–19 2019–20 2022 2023 2024
San Andres Sports Complex Manila Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Paco Arena Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY

Current roster

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Manila Batang Sampaloc roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 0 Gonzaga, Tonino 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Ateneo
G 1 Mitchell, DJ (FF) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Hartford
G 2 Cuya, Dash 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G 3 Pasturan, Jimboy (SGL) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) St. Benilde
G 7 Hanapi, Didat 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Adamson
G 13 Tolomia, Mike 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1993–01–06 Far Eastern
F 15 Sena, James 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1988–08–31 José Rizal
F 17 Cruz, Carl Bryan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1991–08–21 Far Eastern
F 18 Escandor, Francis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle
C 20 Slaughter, Greg (FF) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 258 lb (117 kg) 1988–05–19 Ateneo
G 21 Torralba, Joshua 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1993–09–09 De La Salle
G 22 Flores, Raphael 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
G 23 Cantimbuhan, John 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
F 24 Jamon, Jan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1993–04–05 Emilio Aguinaldo
C 28 Umali, Shawn (HG, SGL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) St. Benilde
F 33 Gonzaga, Jio 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
C 35 Al-Hussaini, Rabeh 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1988–08–11 Ateneo
F 88 Bataller, Ira (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Letran
F 99 Napoles, Jorey 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1993–11–27 TIP
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured
Updated as of: July 19, 2024

Head coaches

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# Name Term Ref.
1 Philip Cezar 2018–19
2 Tino Pinat 2019–20
3 Pocholo Villanueva 2021
4 Maximino Dayandante, Jr. 2022
5 Tylon Darjuan 2023
6 Bam Ledesma 2023
7 Bimbot Anquilo 2023
8 Gabby Severino 2024

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
Manila Stars
2018–19
Datu Cup		 North 4th 25 20 5 .800 3 Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals
Division finals		 won vs. Bulacan, 2–0
won vs. Bataan, 2–1
lost vs. San Juan, 1–2
2019–20
Lakan Season		 North 2nd 30 25 5 .833 1 Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals		 won vs. Pasig, 2–0
lost vs. Makati, 1–2
2022 North 10th 21 6 15 .286 15 Did not qualify
2023 North 13th 27 4 23 .148 21.5
Manila Batang Sampaloc
2024 North 4th 28 20 8 .714 6 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Caloocan, 0–2
All-time regular season record 131 75 56 .573 3 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 15 8 7 .533 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 146 83 63 .568 0 championships

Pilipinas Super League

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Season Elimination round Playoffs
Finish W L PCT Stage Results
Manila CityStars
2022–23
DUMPER Cup		 8th 9 6 .600 Quarterfinals lost vs. San Juan, 0–1
2023–24
President's Cup		 14th 5 13 .278 First Round lost vs. Nueva Ecija, 0–1
All-time elimination round record 14 19 .424 2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 0 1 .000 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 9 7 .400 0 championships

References

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  1. ^ "Gab Banal beats out Mark Yee for MPBL Datu Cup MVP award". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "John Wilson crowned MPBL MVP". RAPPLER. March 21, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Cholo Villanueva is the new Manila coach in MPBL". ABS-CBN News. November 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "Manila triumphs over Binan as Greg Slaughter delivers in MPBL debut". Tiebreaker Times. May 25, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "COLUMN: Manila Stars' future dim after another early playoff exit". Spin.ph. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "Manila Stars considering withdrawal from MPBL". fastbreak.com.ph. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
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