The Zamboanga Valientes, also known as the Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The team has competed in numerous leagues since its founding in 2006.
Eight years later, the team was revived in 2018 as part of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's (MPBL) national expansion under its current moniker. However, undisclosed management issues led to the MPBL department splitting in 2019. Since the split, the Valientes have continued to compete in a variety of leagues and has also fielded a 3x3 team.
History
Early history
The Zamboanga Valientes was established in 2006 by Lando Navarro as a means to give a platform for Zamboangueño basketball players.[1] The team has participated in various commercial and regional leagues including the National Basketball Conference in 2006, and the Liga Pilipinas in 2008.[2] After Lando's death, the club was taken over by Cory Navarro and Mike Venezuela, affiliated with the MLV Accounting.[1]
Due to management issues, however, the team announced that it will relaunch as the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines beginning with the 2019 calendar year. The move effectively split the team into two, with the relaunched ZFAMS succeeding the Valientes in the MPBL while the Valientes themselves continue to compete in other leagues.[4]
Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3
The Zamboanga Valientes was among the pioneer teams of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league which played in the inaugural season in 2018.[5] The 2020 season saw both the Valientes and Family Brand's Sardines compete, marking the first time both teams competed in the same league since the aforementioned split.
For the 2020 season which was organized within a "bubble" format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Valientes fielded an all-Zamboangeño team, with all players native to Zamboanga City.[5]
Zamboanga Valientes received an invitation to participate in the inaugural season of the PBA 3x3 league in 2021.[7] It became the first non-franchise team to confirm its participation in the PBA league.[8][9] The team took a leave of absence for the second conference of the season due to its roster being hampered by injuries.[10]
ASEAN Basketball League
On November 26, 2022, it was announced that the Valientes would be the Philippine representatives for the ABL Invitational 2023.[11]
Potential acquisition of Terrafirma Dyip
On April 28, 2025, it was reported that the Valientes were in talks to acquire the Terrafirma Dyip franchise of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Team owner Junjie Navarro stated confirmed in an article with SPIN.ph that the team has met with Terrafirma and that "it's almost a done deal". This came a few days after Starhorse Shipping Lines' attempted acquisition of the Terrafirma franchise fell through.[12]
Other
After the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 season, Zamboanga Valientes decided to begin competing in international tournaments.[13] They competed and won the title in the 3X3 Christmas Hustle which was organized in Canberra, Australia in December 2020.[14]
Management
The Zamboanga Valientes is supported by local businesspeople Cory Navarro and Mike Venezuela and had sanction from former Zamboanga City mayor Beng Climaco.[5] Joseph Romarante is the team's vice president.[15]
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