Bulacan Kuyas

The Bulacan Kuyas are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Bulacan. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of four active teams based in the Central Luzon region, playing their home games at Baliwag Star Arena in Baliwag.

Bulacan Kuyas
Bulacan Kuyas logo
LeagueMPBL (2018–2021, 2023–present)
Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (formerly)
PSL (2022–2023)
Founded2017 (2017)
HistoryMPBL:
Bulacan Kuyas (2018–present)
PSL:
Kopanang Lakan ng Bulacan (2022–2023)
ArenaBaliwag Star Arena
LocationBulacan
Team colors     
Head coachAlvin Grey

The team was one of the MPBL's charter teams in its inaugural season, and has also played in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL), where they are known as the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan and formerly in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

Since 2023, the team is backed by the Local Government of Baliwag.

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

The Bulacan Kuyas are among the ten charter teams featured in the inaugural season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. They were also the champions of the pre-season tournament the league held prior to the season.[1] Throughout the 2018 season, the team played their home games at the Bulacan Capitol Gymansium in Malolos. The team inked a partnership with the Ligo Sardines for the 2018 season.[2]

In their first season, Bulacan were one of three teams with a 6-3 record and claimed the second seed with a tiebreaker on point differential. The team, however, would fall in an upset against the Panañaque Patriots in the Quarterfinals.

Entering the 2018–19 season, the team signed a deal with Mighty Sports to become the team's new major sponsor.[3][4] The team once again made the playoffs, but once again lost in the First Round to the Manila Stars. Then in the 2019–20 season, they made the playoffs for the third straight season, but lost to the Makati Super Crunch.

After competing in the 2021 Invitational, the team opted out of the 2022 season. The team would make a return in 2023, this time with backing from the Local Government of Baliwag, playing all of their home games that season in Baliwag Star Arena. After starting the season 6–4, the team went on to all but one of their remaining 18 games to finish the season 7–21, by far the team's worst season.

Pilipinas Super League

Bulacan joined the Pilipinas Super League in 2022, as the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan.

Team identity

The team is named after former Bulacan First District Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, whose nickname is "Kuya". He served as the team's owner and backer during its foundation. In the Pilipinas Super League, the team is known as the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan, shortened to Koponang Lakan.

During the team's first three seasons, it used a color scheme that primarily revolves around the color pink, with purple or blue-green as the secondary color. When the team returned in 2023, the primary color was switched to green.

Current soster
Bulacan Kuyas roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
F 0 Philippines Fabian, Jerick
1 Philippines Yuzon, Rhonz
G 2 Philippines Alcoriza, Rence Luis
G 7 Philippines Dela Cruz, Levi
F 10 Philippines Acop, Airohn
F 11 Philippines Vegiga, Matthew
G 12 Philippines Capacio, Gwyne Mattew
F 14 Philippines Toribio Jr, Enrico
F 15 Philippines Codinera, Jude
F 16 Philippines Nacpil, Jerick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) St. Nicolas
F 17 Philippines Ingel, Jordan
G 20 Philippines Segura, Kentoy 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
F 21 Philippines Cruz, Jeremy
G 22 Philippines Capulong, Renz
C 25 Philippines Raflores Jr., Buenaventura 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1994–10–17 Mapúa
G 26 Philippines Guevarra, Justine
F 29 Philippines Bautista, Jesper
G 71 Philippines Dela Torre, Guilmer 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Arellano
F 77 Philippines de Guzman, Daniel 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1992–03–07 NEUST
F 99 Philippines Sebastian, Benson
Head coach
  • Philippines Alvin Grey
Assistant coach(es)
  • Philippines Alexander Abrajano
  • Philippines Milo San Juan
Team manager

TBA

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (EP) Ex–PBA
  • (HG) Homegrown player
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner player
  • (SGL) Special Guest License
  • Injured Injured

Head coaches
  • Ogie Gumatay (2018)
  • Chris Baluyot (2018)
  • Britt Reroma (2018–2019)
  • Kerwin McCoy (2019–2021)
  • Ralph Emerson Rivera (2021)
  • Alvin Grey (2023–present)

Notable players
Bulacan Kuyas notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Jay-R Taganas2018–2020—2 (2019, 2020)
Rence Alcoriza2023–present—1 (2023)

Season-by-season records
Records from the 2023 MPBL season:
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2018
Anta-Rajah Cup		Bulacan KuyasNone2nd/1063.667Quarterfinalslost vs. Parañaque, 1–2
2018–19
Datu Cup		North5th/131411.560First Roundlost vs. Manila, 0–2
2019–20
Lakan Cup		6th/161911.633First Roundlost vs. Makati, 0–2
2022
Mumbaki Cup		Did not participate
2023Bulacan KuyasNorth12th/15721.250Did not qualify
Total elimination round4646.5003 playoff appearances
Total playoffs16.1430 Finals appearances
Total franchise4752.4750 championships

Invitational records
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2021Bulacan KuyasGroup D4th/623.400Did not qualify
Total elimination round23.4000 playoff appearances
Total playoffs00–0 Finals appearances
Total franchise23.4000 championships

References
  1. "Bulacan, Quezon City prevail in MPBL". Manila Bulletin. February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  2. "Bulacan Kuyas inks partnership with Ligo Sardines". Ligo Brand Philippines. January 24, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  3. "Mighty Sports back on mainstream cage scene via MPBL's Bulacan Kuyas". FOX Sports Philippines. June 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  4. "Might Sports Re-Emerges in the MPBL". Mighty Sports. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
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