Valenzuela Classic

Valenzuela Classic
2024 Valenzuela Classic season
League	MPBL
Founded	2017;7 years ago (2017)
History	Valenzuela Classic 2018–2019, 2024–present Valenzuela Idol Cheesedogs 2018 Valenzuela SPV TOP Marketplace 2019 Val City Carga Backload Solution 2019–2020 Valenzuela MJAS Zenith 2021 Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. 2022–2023
Arena	WES Arena
Location	Valenzuela
Team colors
Main sponsor	VA Cargo
Head coach	Aldrin Morante

The Valenzuela Classic, also known as Valenzuela Classic VA Cargo for sponsorship reasons, is a Filipino professional basketball team based in Valenzuela. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of two teams based in Metro Manila's Northern District, the other team being the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo. The team plays their home games at WES Arena.

The team joined in 2018 as one of the league's charter teams and has gone under multiple names. ^[1] The team is currently owned by the local government of Valenzuela. The Valenzuela-based franchise also took part in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

History

The Valenzuela Classic were one of the MPBL's ten charter teams, one of six based in Metro Manila, and one of three Valenzuela finished as one of three teams with a 6-3 record, claiming the fourth seed in the playoffs. They beat the Quezon City Capitals in the Quarterfinals before losing to the first-seeded Batangas City Athletics.

In the 2018–19 season, the team went 10-15, failing to make the playoffs as they ranked 10th in the North Division. In the following season, the team ranked at 10th once again with a record of 11-19.

Valenzuela then participated in the 2021 Invitational and failed to make the playoffs, ranking third in Group C after finishing 2-2. In the 2022 season, the team began playing home games at the Bahayang Pag-asa Sports Complex. The team finished 10-11, one game short of a winning record. Despite the losing record, the team still made the playoffs as the sixth seed, but were swept by the San Juan Knights in the First Round.

Current roster

Valenzuela Classic roster v t e
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 1 Chauca, Valandre 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) AdU G 3 Manliguez, Darrel 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) MATS F 6 Mohammad, Alexander 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) PUP F 8 Boliver, Bryan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Bestlink F/C 9 Gotladera, Alfonzo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1992-02-16 Ateneo G 11 Payawal, CJ  (FF) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) UE G 12 Hiro, Jameson  (HG) 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Letran G 13 Rivera, Gianne Paulo  (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) MLQU F 15 Macion, Michael Angelo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) AdU/UV G 16 Trazona, Ryan 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) F 17 Catacutan, Orin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UE G 18 Armenion, Andrey 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UE G 23 Martin, Allan  (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) EAC C 24 Santos, Dennis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) St. Clare C 25 Lepalam, Ladis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) St. Benilde F 28 Diego, Jeric  (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) EAC G 31 dela Cruz, Nem 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) WCC F 32 delos Santos, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Meycauayan G 71 Velasco, Johndel Carlo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) PSBA F 82 de Chavez, Chris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Ateneo F/C – Quiñahan, J. R. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1984-05-08 UV	Head coach Congressman Eric Martinez Aldrin Morante Assistant coach(es) RJ Guevarra Kyle Umengan Team manager Errol Francisco JB Garcia Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee Injured Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: April 7, 2024

Head coaches

#	Name	Term	Ref.
1	Chris Gavina	2018–2018–2019
2	Eric Samson	2018
3	Juven Formacil	2019
4	Gerry Esplana	2019
5	Ronjay Enrile	2019–2020
6	Aldrin Morante	2022
7	Lester Alvarez	2022
8	Jhon Velasquez	2023
9	Eric Martinez	2023
10	Aldrin Morante	2024

Notable players

Valenzuela Classic notable players
Player	Position	Tenure	Awards	All-Star
Paulo Hubalde		2018–2020	—	2 (2019, 2020)
Jaymar Gimpayan		2018–2022	—	1 (2022)

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
Valenzuela Classic
2018 Rajah Cup	None	4th	6	3	.667	Quarterfinals Semifinals	won vs. Quezon City, 2–1 lost vs. Batangas City, 0–2
2018–19 Datu Cup	North	10th	10	15	.400	Did not qualify
Val City Carga Backload Solution
2019–20 Lakan Season	North	10th	11	19	.367	Did not qualify
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.
2022	North	6th	10	11	.476	First Round	lost vs. San Juan, 0–2
2023	North	15th	3	25	.107	Did not qualify
Valenzuela Classic
2024	North					1st Game	Lost Vs Zamboanga Master Sardines
						2nd Game	Win Vs Pangasinan Heatwaves
						3rd Game	Vs Quezon Huskers
							Vs 1Bataan Risers
							Vs Paranaque Patriots
All-time regular season record			40	73	.354	2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record			2	5	.286	0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record			42	78	.333	0 championships

References

1. Leongson, Randolph (22 January 2018). "Maharlika basketball league tips off Thursday with 10 teams at Big Dome". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 23 January 2018.