Iloilo United Royals

Iloilo United Royals
2024 Iloilo United Royals season
League	MPBL (2019-present)
Founded	2019;5 years ago (2019)
History	Iloilo United Royals 2019–present
Arena	Passi City Arena
Location	Passi, Iloilo
Team colors
Head coach	MC Abolucion

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 one of three teams based in the Western Visayas region and play their home games at Passi City Arena in Passi.

The team joined the league in the 2019–20 season.

History

JJ 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

The name is meant to represent the province of Iloilo, "United" represents unity among the Ilonggo people, while "Royals" references Iloilo City.

Current roster

Iloilo United Royals roster v t e
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 8 Javelosa, Michael Jay  (HG) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) F 9 Catapusan, CJ 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UP F 27 Larupay, Omar  (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Lyceum C 29 Ongteco, Jeffrey Ryan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) St. Benilde F 33 Madrigal, AJ 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UP C — Berjay, RV 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Ateneo F — Credo, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Ateneo G — Cansino, CJ 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1999-10-27 UP G — Capacio, Gwyne Matthew 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Ateneo G — Gomez, Gab 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Ateneo G — Imperial, Shaquille 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Southwestern-U G — Jeruta, Aaron  (HG) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 1994–10–16 Centro Escolar G — Kapunan, JV  (HG) 1990–07–23 G — Nonoy, Mark 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) De La Salle C — Rangel, Tzaddy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 1996–12–22 National-U	Head coach MC Abolucion Assistant coach(es) Andy Mejos Noli Mejos Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee Injured Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: March 19, 2024

Head coaches

• Eric Gonzales (2019–2021) ^[10]
• Manu Inigo (2023) ^[11]
• MC Abolucion (2023–present)

Notable players

Iloilo United Royals notable players
Player	Position	Tenure	Awards	All-Star
Richard Escoto		2019–2020	—	1 (2020)
CJ Catapusan		2023–present	—	1 (2023)
Josh Flores		2023	—	1 (2023)
Renzo Navarro		2023	—	1 (2023)

Season-by-season records

	League champions
	Division champions
	Qualified for playoffs
	Best regular season record

Season	Regular season					Playoffs
	Division	Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
Iloilo United Royals
2019–20 Lakan Season	South	6th	18	12	.600	First Round	lost vs. Basilan, 0–2
2022	Did not participate
2023	South	8th	12	16	.429	First Round	lost vs. Bacoor City, 1–2
2024		To be determined
All-time regular season record			30	28	.517	2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record			1	4	.200	0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record			31	32	.492	0 championships

References

1. Leobert Julian A. de la Peña (December 2, 2021). "Iloilo United Royals reveal roster for 2021 MPBL Invitational". Daily Guardian . Retrieved March 16, 2023.
2. Rick Olivares (November 13, 2019). "Iloilo Royals look to continue win streak vs Pasig in MPBL". The Philippine Star . Retrieved March 16, 2023.
3. Olivares, Rick (December 16, 2019). "A love for the game and the region | Rick Olivares". BusinessMirror. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
4. "Allyn Bulanadi leads Basilan past Iloilo and into MPBL division semifinals". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
5. Ivan Saldajeno (February 25, 2020). "Bulanadi takes over in clutch as Basilan clinches playoff series against Iloilo". dugout.ph. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
6. Randolph B. Leongson (December 22, 2021). "Nueva Ecija overcomes Iloilo to reach MPBL Invitational semis". Spin.ph . Retrieved March 16, 2023.
7. Guardian, Daily (December 22, 2021). "Iloilo falls to Nueva Ecija in MPBL Invitational quarterfinals". Daily Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
8. "Iloilo United Royals set for 2023 MPBL return". www.panaynews.net. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
9. Adrian Stewart Co (January 25, 2023). "Iloilo United Royals set for 2023 MPBL return". Panay News. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
10. "Quezon Huskers temper expectations as new MPBL team". The Philippine Star . February 21, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
11. Adrian Stewart Co (February 16, 2023). "Ilonggo Sumido banners United Royals in MPBL". Watchmen Daily Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2023– via Pressreader.com.