Bulacan Kuyas

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.

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 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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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 Gymansium in Malolos. The team inked a partnership with the Ligo Sardines for the 2018 season.[2]

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. The team would make a return in 2023. After starting the season 6–4, the team went on to win only one out of their remaining 18 games to finish the season 7–21, by far the team's worst 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.

VenueLocation20182018–192019–20202220232024
Bulacan Capitol GymnasiumMalolos, Bulacan Y Y YDNP N Y
Malolos Sports and Convention CenterMalolos, Bulacan N N Y NTBA
Baliwag Star ArenaBaliwag, Bulacan N Y Y YTBA

Current roster

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PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G0Hubalde, Paolo5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)UE
G1Ibañez, Niño5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)Lyceum
G3Montero, Joshua5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
G4dela Cruz, Jovit (HG)5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)San Sebastian
F6Celis, Jason5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)José Rizal
G8Wong, Denzel5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
F9Dada, Andrei5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G10Melegrito, Kojack5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)Letran
G11Andales, Mark6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
F13Osicos, Khenn6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)TIP
F/C14Mallari, Lawrence (HG)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)STI Batangas
G15Sandilong, Steven5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
C16Tancioco, Francisco6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)Enderun
F17Ajero, Haley6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
G23Manzo, Ralph5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
F/C24Hernandez, Kristan6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)SDCA
G27Acosta, Mark Anthony6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
C32Viernes, Franco6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
F33Santiago, Cyril (HG)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F35Carandang, John6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)Arellano
F50Dulalia, Andrei6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
F73Baltazar, Jan6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)SCT
Head coach
  • Jonathan Reyes
Assistant coach(es)
  • Jowee Dada
  • Danilo Ramirez

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

Updated as of: April 10, 2024

Head coaches

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#NameTermRef.
1Ogie Gumatay2018
2Chris Baluyot2018
3Britt Reroma2018–20192019
4Kerwin McCoy2019–2021
5Ralph Emerson Rivera2021
6Alvin Grey2023
7Jerry Codiñera2023
8Joseph Mabagos2023
9Jonathan Reyes2024

Notable players

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Bulacan Kuyas notable players
PlayerPositionTenureAwardsAll-Star
Jay-R Taganas2018–20202 (2019, 2020)
Rence Alcoriza20231 (2023)

Season-by-season records

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League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
DivisionFinishGPWLPCTGBStageResults
Bulacan Kuyas
2018
Rajah Cup
2nd963.6672Quarterfinalslost vs. Parañaque, 1–2
2018–19
Datu Cup
North5th251411.5609First Roundlost vs. Manila, 0–2
2019–20
Lakan Season
North6th301911.6337First Roundlost vs. Makati, 0–2
Did not participate in 2022
2023North12th28721.25019Did not qualify
2024NorthTo be determined
All-time regular season record924646.5003 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record716.1430 Finals appearances
All-time overall record994752.4750 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.