Marikina Shoemasters
The Marikina Shoemasters are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Marikina. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of 11 active teams based in Metro Manila. Marikina is also one of four teams based in the Eastern Manila District, playing their home games at Marikina Sports Center.
Marikina Shoemasters | |
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League | MPBL (2018–present) Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (formerly) |
Founded | 2018 |
History | Marikina Shoemasters (2018–2020, 2022–present) Marikina Shoe City (2021) |
Arena | Marikina Sports Center |
Location | Marikina |
Team colors | |
Head coach | Elvis Tolentino |
The team began play during the 2018–19 season. The name references Marikina's moniker as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines". The team has also participated in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.[1] In 2023, the Shoemasters launched its junior side, the Marikina Junior Shoemasters, for the inaugural season of the Junior MPBL.
Their women's volleyball counterpart, the Marikina Lady Shoemasters, participates in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA).
History
2018–2020: Founding and initial struggles
The Marikina Shoemasters were established in 2018, as part of the MPBL's expansion lineup for the 2018–19 season. As part of the South Division, the Shoemasters, led by Yves Sazon and Erwin Sta. Maria, only managed to win eight games out of 25, putting the team at 11th place in the South.
Heading into the 2019–20 season, Marikina was realigned to the North Division, and despite keeping the same core players, the team still only won eight games in the 30-game season, putting the team at 13th in the North and missing the playoffs once again.
2022–present: Making the playoffs and developing further
The Shoemasters entered the 2022 season with a rebuilt roster led by Lorenzo Joson. Although the team only finished with an 8–13 record, it was enough to give Marikina its first playoff appearance. The team would then be swept by the undefeated Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the First Round. Although Joson would leave the team for General Santos in 2023, Marikina would add Felipe Chavez and collegiate player Marwin Dionisio alongside Joe Gomez de Liaño to its roster.
In 2023, Marikina went on to have a tough playoff race against the Bataan Risers, which Marikina won in the final week as they claimed the eighth seed once again. On top of that, Marikina finished 16–12, their first winning record in franchise history. In the playoffs, the Shoemasters would be swept by the top seed Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the First Round.
Marikina would also broaden its venture into sports development around this time. The Marikina Junior Shoemasters joined as part of the founding lineup of the youth-oriented Junior MPBL. Its women's volleyball counterpart, the Marikina Lady Shoemasters, was also established and will play in the inaugural season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA).
Current roster
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head coaches
2018–present | |||||||||||||
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# | Name | Start | End | Regular Season | Playoffs | Best Finish | Achievements | ||||||
GC | W | L | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | ||||||
1 | Elvis Tolentino | 2018 | present | 11 | 4 | 7 | .364 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ||
Season-by-season records
- Records as of 2023 MPBL season:
Season | Team name | Elimination round | Playoffs | |||||
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Division | Finish | W | L | PCT | Stage | Results | ||
2018–19 Datu Cup | Marikina Shoemasters | South | 11th/13 | 8 | 17 | .320 | Did not qualify | |
2019–20 Lakan Cup | North | 13th/16 | 8 | 22 | .267 | Did not qualify | ||
2022 Mumbaki Cup | 8th/11 | 8 | 13 | .381 | First Round | lost vs. Nueva Ecija 0–2 | ||
2023 | 8th/15 | 16 | 12 | .571 | First Round | lost vs. Pampanga 0–2 | ||
Total elimination round | 40 | 64 | .385 | 1 playoff appearance | ||||
Total playoffs | 0 | 4 | .000 | 0 Finals appearances | ||||
Total franchise | 40 | 68 | .370 | 0 championships |
Invitational records
Season | Team name | Elimination round | Playoffs | |||||
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Division | Finish | W | L | PCT | Stage | Results | ||
2021 | Marikina Shoe City | Group B | 4th/5 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Did not qualify | |
Total elimination round | 1 | 3 | .250 | 0 playoff appearances | ||||
Total playoffs | 0 | 0 | – | 0 Finals appearances | ||||
Total franchise | 1 | 3 | .250 | 0 championships |
References
- Li, Matthew (2 March 2019). "Dream come true for 'starstruck' Gerald Anderson to play in Chooks 3×3". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- Lim, Allan (May 7, 2018). "Actor Gerald Anderson to play for Marikina in MPBL". Hoops.ph. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- Dawa, Elech (May 7, 2018). "MPBL: Gerald Anderson pambida ng Marikina". Abante Tonite. Retrieved May 28, 2018.