Kyt Jimenez

Last updated

Kyt Jimenez
Sarangani Marlins
Position Point guard / Shooting guard
League MPBL
Personal information
Born (1997-03-21) March 21, 1997 (age 27)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [1]
NationalityFilipino
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Career information
College FEU
Perpetual
PBA draft 2023: 9th round, 76th overall pick
Selected by the San Miguel Beermen
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022 Sarangani Marlins
2022–2023 Davao Occidental Tigers
2023 GenSan Warriors
2023–2024 San Miguel Beermen
2025–presentSarangani Marlins
Career highlights and awards

Krystoffe "Kyt" Mauricio Jimenez (born March 21, 1997) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Sarangani Marlins of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). [2] Born in Saudi Arabia, Jimenez played college basketball for FEU and Perpetual before suffering multiple injuries. Jimenez subsequently joined, and gained notoriety, with Mavs Phenomenal Basketball, a basketball development program with a large online following, particularly in YouTube, which paved way for a professional career. [3]

Contents

Jimenez made his professional debut in 2022 with the Sarangani Marlins of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) before moving to the GenSan Warriors in 2023. During the PBA season 48 draft, Jimenez was drafted by San Miguel in the ninth round with the 76th overall pick. After signing a two-year deal with the team, he became the lowest draft pick to be signed by a PBA team. He won a championship with the team during his rookie season. However, he was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, the following season. [4]

Jimenez is just one of two players to achieve a rare quadruple-double in a Philippine professional basketball game, the other being Donbel Belano.

College career

In college, Kyt Jimenez first played for the FEU Tamaraws before moving to the Perpetual Altas. [1] During his Perpetual stint, however, Jimenez suffered multiple injuries. [1] [5]

Professional career

Sarangani Marlins and the quaruple-double (2022)

On April 25, 2022, he would make his professional debut during the opening gameday of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2022 season. Playing for the Sarangani Marlins, Jimenez scored 22 points on top of seven rebounds and four assists to give Sarangani the win over Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. [6] Jimenez would go on to become an all-star starter during the 2022 MPBL All-Star Game.

On October 10, 2022, in a game against the Mindoro Tams, Jimenez recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 steals, achieving the elusive quadruple-double. It was the first and currently only time that occurred in the MPBL and only the second time in all of Philippine professional basketball. [7] [8]

Jimenez led Sarangani to the third seed in the South, but the run was cut short by an upset sweep from the Rizal Golden Coolers during the division quarterfinals of the 2022 MPBL playoffs. Jimenez would go on to win the inaugural MPBL Rookie of the Year award after averaging 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.

Davao Occidental Tigers (2022–2023)

Jimenez then made his way to the Pilipinas Super League, competing with the Davao Occidental Tigers. [9] [10]

GenSan Warriors (2023)

The following season, Jimenez returned to the MPBL, but now with the GenSan Warriors. He was selected for his second all-star appearance for the 2023 MPBL All-Star Game, also as a starter.

San Miguel Beermen (2023–2024)

On September 17, 2023, during the season 48 draft of the Philippine Basketball Association, Jimenez was selected with the 76th overall pick by the San Miguel Beermen. On September 27, he signed a two-year deal with San Miguel, making him the lowest drafted pick to sign a contract with a PBA team. [4] In his first game against the Meralco Bolts, Jimenez suffered a fracture after getting hit, sidelining him indefinitely. [11] He would still go on to win a championship following San Miguel's victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2023–24 Commissioner's Cup finals. Before the start of the 2024 Philippine Cup, Jimenez suffered a freak accident causing an arm laceration, which rendered him unable to compete in the Greats vs. Stalwarts game of the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend were he was set to be a team captain. [12] [13]

Zamboanga Valientes (2025)

On November 2024, Jimenez was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list ahead of the 2024–25 PBA Commissioner's Cup, but still had one year remaining in his contract. However, he ended up playing for the Zamboanga Valientes during the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship and Gov. Hofer Invitational Tournament. [14] [15] Because of this, Jimenez was granted a ban from the PBA for playing in other leagues without clearance, though he is given the opportunity to appeal the ban. [16]

Return to Sarangani (2025–present)

Following his ban from the PBA, Jimenez will make a return to the Sarangani Marlins for the 2025 MPBL season. [2]

Career statistics

PBA

Legend
  GPGames played  GSGames started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

As of the end of 2023–24 season [17]

Season-by-season averages

YearTeamGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 San Miguel 28.1.000.0001.0001.01.02.0
Career28.1.000.0001.0001.01.02.0

MPBL

Legend
  GPGames played  GSGames started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

As of the end of 2023 season

Season-by-season averages

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022 Sarangani 201829.0.353.294.7637.94.72.80.517.2
2023 General Santos 231016.0.386.301.5884.83.41.40.36.7

References

  1. 1 2 3 Terrado, Reuben (September 14, 2023). "Kyt Jimenez out to show he's more than just an online sensation". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Debuting Ilagan Isabela, retooled Abra raise curtains on MPBL season". Spin.ph. February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  3. Bolima, Martin Dale (September 6, 2023). "Kyt Jimenez's jaw-dropping highlights show he could be steal of PBA Draft". onesports.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Terrado, Reuben (September 27, 2023). "No.76 pick Kyt Jimenez inks two-year deal with San Miguel Beer". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  5. Anzures, Rom (February 16, 2024). "How Kyt Jimenez went from almost being undrafted to PBA champ". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  6. "MPBL: Kyt Jimenez shines in pro debut as Sarangani prevails over Val City". Tiebreaker Times. April 26, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  7. "Jimenez books rare 'quadruple'". Philstar.com. October 12, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  8. "Kyt Jimenez makes history after tallying first-ever MPBL quadruple-double". Daily Guardian. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  9. "PSL: Kyt Jimenez delivers in clutch as Davao Occi escapes Boracay". Tiebreaker Times. November 24, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  10. Bacnis, Justine (September 14, 2023). "Kyt Jimenez remains unfazed amidst hype ahead of PBA Draft". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  11. Terrado, Reuben (November 20, 2023). "SMB rookie Kyt Jimenez out indefinitely after suffering blowout fracture". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  12. Ramos, Gerry (March 15, 2024). "Kyt Jimenez faces two-month layoff after ice bath accident". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  13. Ramos, Gerry (March 17, 2024). "Pogoy, rookie David make it to All-Stars as replacements". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  14. Dannug, Jonash (January 24, 2025). "Kyt Jimenez takes risk to revive career". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  15. "Vic Manuel, Kyt Jimenez reunite with Valientes for Zamboanga meet". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  16. "Kyt Jimenez's PBA ban still open for appeal". Spin.ph. January 28, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  17. "Krystoffe Jimenez Player Profile, San Miguel Beermen - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.