Bulacan Kuyas

Bulacan Kuyas
2024 Bulacan Kuyas season
DivisionNorth Division
LeagueMPBL
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
HistoryBulacan Kuyas
2018–present
ArenaBulacan Capitol Gymnasium
LocationBulacan
Team colors     
Head coachJonathan Reyes

The Bulacan Kuyas are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Bulacan. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and play their home games at Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos.

The team was founded as one of the MPBL's charter teams in its inaugural season. They have also took part in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

History

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Founding

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The Bulacan Kuyas are among the ten charter teams featured in the inaugural season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. They were also the champions of the pre-season tournament the league held prior to the season.[1] Throughout the 2018 season, the team played their home games at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos. The team inked a partnership with the Ligo Sardines for the 2018 season.[2]

2018–2021: The Taganas era

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In their first season, Bulacan were one of three teams with a 6-3 record and claimed the second seed with a tiebreaker on point differential. The team, however, would fall in an upset against the Panañaque Patriots in the Quarterfinals.

Entering the 2018–19 season, the team signed a deal with Mighty Sports to become the team's new major sponsor.[3][4] The team once again made the playoffs, but once again lost in the First Round to the Manila Stars. Then in the 2019–20 season, they made the playoffs for the third straight season, but lost to the Makati Super Crunch. After competing in the 2021 Invitational, the team opted out of the 2022 season.

2023–present: Return and sudden decline

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The team would make a return in 2023. Since then, the team has failed to return to their amateur era form. After starting the 2023 season 6–4, the team went on to win only one out of their remaining 18 games to finish the season 7–21. In 2024, the Kuyas only won two games out of 28 and ended up as the worst team in the North Division that season.

Team identity

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The team is named after former Bulacan First District Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, whose nickname is "Kuya". He served as the team's owner and backer during its foundation.

During the team's first three seasons, it used a color scheme that primarily revolves around the color pink, with purple or blue-green as the secondary color. When the team returned in 2023, the primary color was switched to green.

Home venues

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Most of the Bulacan Kuyas' home games are played at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium alongside secondary venues Baliwag Star Arena and Malolos Sports and Convention Center. In 2023, the team played all of their home games at Baliwag Star Arena.

Venue Location 2018 2018–19 2019–20 2022 2023 2024
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium Malolos, Bulacan Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY DNP Red XN Red XN
Malolos Sports and Convention Center Malolos, Bulacan Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN
Baliwag Star Arena Baliwag, Bulacan Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN

Current roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 0 Hubalde, Paolo 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UE
G 1 Ibañez, Niño 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Lyceum
G 3 Montero, Joshua 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
G 4 dela Cruz, Jovit (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) San Sebastian
F 6 Celis, Jason 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) José Rizal
G 8 Wong, Denzel 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
F 9 Dada, Andrei 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G 10 Melegrito, Kojack 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Letran
G 11 Andales, Mark 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
F 13 Osicos, Khenn 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) TIP
F/C 14 Mallari, Lawrence (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) STI Batangas
G 15 Sandilong, Steven 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
C 16 Tancioco, Francisco 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Enderun
G 23 Manzo, Ralph 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G 27 Acosta, Mark Anthony 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
C 32 Viernes, Franco 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
F 33 Santiago, Cyril (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F 35 Carandang, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Arellano
F 50 Dulalia, Andrei 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
F 73 Baltazar, Jan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SCT
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Jowee Dada
  • Danilo Ramirez

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

Updated as of: June 14, 2024

Head coaches

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# Name Term Ref.
1 Ogie Gumatay 2018
2 Chris Baluyot 2018
3 Britt Reroma 2018–20192019
4 Kerwin McCoy 2019–2021
5 Ralph Emerson Rivera 2021
6 Alvin Grey 2023
7 Jerry Codiñera 2023
8 Joseph Mabagos 2023
9 Jonathan Reyes 2024

Notable players

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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
Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Bulacan Kuyas
2018
Rajah Cup
2nd 9 6 3 .667 2 Quarterfinals lost vs. Parañaque, 1–2
2018–19
Datu Cup
North 5th 25 14 11 .560 9 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Manila, 0–2
2019–20
Lakan Season
North 6th 30 19 11 .633 7 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Makati, 0–2
Did not participate in 2022
2023 North 12th 28 7 21 .250 19 Did not qualify
2024 North 14th 28 2 26 .071 24
All-time regular season record 120 48 72 .500 3 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 7 1 6 .143 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 127 49 78 .475 0 championships

References

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  1. ^ "Bulacan, Quezon City prevail in MPBL". Manila Bulletin. February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Bulacan Kuyas inks partnership with Ligo Sardines". Ligo Brand Philippines. January 24, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Mighty Sports back on mainstream cage scene via MPBL's Bulacan Kuyas". FOX Sports Philippines. June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Might Sports Re-Emerges in the MPBL". Mighty Sports. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.