Makati OKBet Kings

The Makati OKBet Kings are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Makati. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of 11 active teams based in Metro Manila. Makati is also one of four teams based in the Southern Manila District, playing their home games at Makati Coliseum.

"Makati Skyscrapers" redirects here. For the list of skyscrapers in the city of Makati, see List of tallest buildings in Makati.

Makati OKBet Kings
Makati OKBet Kings logo
LeagueMPBL (2018–present)
Filbasket (2021–2022)
Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (formerly)
Founded2018 (2018)
HistoryMakati Skyscrapers (2018)
Makati Super Crunch (2018–2021)
Makati FSD Blazers (2021)
Makati × MNL Kingpin (2022)
Makati OKBet Kings (2023–present)
ArenaMakati Coliseum
LocationMakati
Team colors   
Main sponsorOKBet Gaming
Head coachDon Dulay

The team began play in the 2018–19 season as the Makati Skyscrapers and has since gone under multiple names. The team also competed in Filbasket as the AFP–FSD Makati Cavaliers, and in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

Since the 2023 season, the team is owned and sponsored by sports betting platform OKBet.[1]

History

2018–2020: Initial success

On April 10, 2018, the City Government of Makati launched the Makati Skyscrapers as one of 16 expansion teams for the MPBL's 2018–19 season.[2][3] Out of those 16 expansion teams, Makati was the team with the best record, finishing 21–4, only behind the league-leading Bataan Risers. This success, however, cannot be matched in the playoffs, as the second-seeded team in the North were swept by the seventh-seeded Quezon City Capitals in the First Round.

The team was able to continue their winning prowess in the 2019–20 season, finishing 22–8 and claiming the North Division's third seed. In the playoffs, the team first swept Bulacan in the First Round and beat Manila in a close series in the Division Semifinals.

Makati made its first appearance in the Division Finals, and were challenged to face against the defending champion San Juan Knights. After losing to San Juan in game 1 as the visiting team, the team was set to host game 2 at home. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, game 2 would be moved to San Juan to be played Behind closed doors. Still, Makati persevered and forced a game 3 by a close margin. Later on, the league suspended play as the pandemic continuously affected the country, forcing the Division Finals to be halted after game 2.

2021–2022: Abrupt fallout

One year later, the league continued play under a bio-secure bubble at the Subic Bay Gymnasium. The pandemic brought a financial crisis to the Makati team, which led to a major scuffle as core players decided to not play for the team in the deciding game 3. By game 3, Makati only fielded a five-man roster, which caused San Juan to eliminate Makati by a wide 77-point margin.[4]

The fallout of Makati continued on as the team failed to make the playoffs of the 2021 Invitational, and as the 2022 season came around, the team only captured two wins in the 21-game season, making them the worst team in the North Division and missing the playoffs for the first time.

2023: Returning to the winning column

Prior to the 2023 season, gaming company and MPBL title sponsor OKBet acquired the franchise of the team.[1] The team was completely rebuilt as the team went back to where they were three years ago, once again claiming the third seed in the North with a record of 21–7, which includes wins against Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Batangas City.

In the First Round, the team will once again face against the San Juan Knights, the team that last eliminated them in 2021.

Team identity

The team first went by the Makati Skyscrapers in its inaugural season, alluding to the numerous tall buildings across the city. Mid-season, the team's name was changed to the Makati Super Crunch as part of a sponsorship with Prifood Corporation,[5] and has since then taken on the name of its title sponsor.

For most of its time, Makati has used a color scheme that uses black as the primary color. In 2023, blue was made the primary color in its uniforms.

Current roster
Makati OKBet Kings roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
F 0 Philippines Jamon, Jan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1993–04–05 Emilio Aguinaldo
5 Philippines Lorenzana, Alonfonzo
G 6 Philippines Dagangon, Gab 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1992–09–07 UPHSD
7 Philippines Cullar, JC St. Benilde
F 8 Philippines Celiz, Robby 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1988–09–07 National-U
F 12 Philippines Daves, Matthew 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 1999–02–12 Ateneo
F 13 Philippines Morales, Carlos 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
14 Philippines Sargento, Micahel
G/F 17 Philippines Agovida, Keith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1990–02–14 Arellano
G 18 Philippines Terso, Joseph 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1990–05–18 National-U
G 19 Philippines Calo, Emanuel 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1989–12–27 Visayas
G 21 Philippines Ramirez, RJ 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1994–02–24 Far Eastern
23 Philippines Samonte, Mark Angelo
F/C 25 Philippines Bringas, Anthony 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 263 lb (119 kg) 1988–04–27 Far Eastern
F 26 Philippines Robles, Billy (EP) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1992–05–30 NIPSC
28 Philippines Arana, Dave
30 Philippines Sario, Marco
F 55 Philippines Casajeros, Lord Hower 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1989–10–30 UE
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • TBA
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (EP) Ex–PBA
  • (HG) Homegrown player
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner player
  • (SGL) Special Guest License
  • Injured Injured

Notable players
Makati OKBet Kings notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Cedric Ablaza2018–2020—2 (2019, 2020)
Jeckster Apinan2018–20201x All-MPBL First Team (2020) —
Carlos Morales2018–present—1 (2022)
Emman Calo2023–present—1 (2023)
Robby Celiz2023–present—1 (2023)

Season-by-season records
Records as of 2023 MPBL season:
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2018–19
Datu Cup		Makati Super CrunchNorth2nd/13214.840First Roundlost vs. Quezon City, 0–2
2019–20
Lakan Cup		3rd/16228.733First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals		won vs. Bulacan, 2–0
won vs. Manila, 2–1
lost vs. San Juan, 1–2
2022
Mumbaki Cup		Makati × MNL Kingpin11th/11219.095Did not qualify
2023Makati OKBet Kings3rd/15217.750First Roundlost vs. San Juan, 0–2
Total elimination round6638.6352 playoff appearances
Total playoffs54.5560 Finals appearances
Total franchise7142.6280 championships

Invitational records
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2021Makati FSD BlazersGroup B3rd/522.500Did not qualify
Total elimination round22.5000 playoff appearances
Total playoffs00–0 Finals appearances
Total franchise22.5000 championships

References
  1. Ramos, Gerry (February 17, 2023). "OKBet renews ties with MPBL, acquires rights to Makati Kings". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. "Makati squad expands MPBL roster of teams to 16". ABS-CBN. April 11, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  3. "Makati pang-16th member team ng MPBL" [Makati 16th member of MPBL]. Philstar (in Filipino). April 12, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  4. Li, Matthew (March 10, 2021). "Makati Super Crunch owner says pandemic forced him to cut contracts". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  5. "Super Crunch in tie-up with Makati team". BusinessWorld. November 8, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.


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