{{Redirect|Manila Stars|the defunct MBA team|Manila Metrostars}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} {{short description|Professional basketball team in Manila, Philippines}} {{infobox basketball club | name = Manila Batang Quiapo | current = 2026 Manila Batang Quiapo season | logo = | league = [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League|MPBL]] (2018–present) <br> [[Pilipinas Super League|PSL]] (2022–2024) | founded = {{start date and age|2018}} | history = '''Manila Stars''' <br> 2018–2024 (MPBL) <br> '''Manila CityStars''' <br> 2022–2024 (PSL) <br> '''Manila SV Batang Sampaloc''' <br> 2024 <br> '''Manila Batang Quiapo''' <br> 2025–present | arena = [[San Andres Sports Complex]] <br> Paco Arena <br> [[Rizal Memorial Coliseum]] | location = [[Quiapo, Manila]] | colors = {{colorbox|#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Quiapo|1}}}} {{colorbox|#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Quiapo|3}}}} {{colorbox|#white}} | sponsor = | coach = Max Dayandante | championship = | a_body = | a_pattern_b = | a_shorts = | a_pattern_s = | h_body = | h_pattern_b = | h_shorts = | h_pattern_s = }}
The '''Manila Batang Quiapo''' are a Filipino professional [[basketball]] team based in [[Manila]] and representing the district of [[Quiapo, Manila|Quiapo]]. The team competes in the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL) as a member of the league's [[North Division (MPBL)|North Division]]. The team splits its home games between [[San Andres Sports Complex]] in [[Malate, Manila|Malate]] and Paco Arena in [[Paco, Manila|Paco]].
The Manila franchise was founded as an expansion team for the [[2018–19 MPBL season]] as the '''Manila Stars''' and saw early success in its first two seasons with Chris Bitoon and [[Aris Dionisio]] leading the team, making the division finals in [[2019 MPBL playoffs|2019]]. The team is also noted for its acquisition of [[Greg Slaughter]] in [[2024 MPBL season|2024]], during which the team gained the backing of businessman [[Sam Verzosa]] and the [[Strong Group Athletics]] organization and were renamed the '''Manila SV Batang Sampaloc'''. The team also competed in the [[Pilipinas Super League]] from 2022 to 2024 as the '''Manila CityStars'''.
The Batang Quiapo are currently the only team based in the Capital District of [[Metro Manila]].
==History==
===Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League===
====2019–2020: The Bitoon–Dionisio era==== The nation's capital joined the MPBL for the [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19 season]], and in its first season, made an instant impact. Led by the duo of [[Chris Bitoon]] and [[Aris Dionisio]], the team finished 20–5, tying with [[San Juan Knights|San Juan]] and [[Davao Occidental Tigers|Davao Occidental]] for the league's third-best record, as the Stars clinch the fourth seed in the [[2019 MPBL playoffs|2019 playoffs]]. After getting past [[Caloocan Supremos|Caloocan]] in the First Round, they met with the league-leading [[Bataan Risers]] in the North Division Semifinals. Although Bataan won game 1, Manila pushed through the next two games to finish the upset and advance to the North Division Finals against San Juan. The series went in a similar way but in the opposite manner, as Manila won game 1 but with San Juan winning the next two to advance to the National Finals and eventually win the championship. At the end of the season, Dionisio won [[MPBL Defensive Player of the Year award|MPBL Defensive Player of the Year]]. He and Bitoon were also selected to the [[All-MPBL First Team]] and declared all-stars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gab Banal beats out Mark Yee for MPBL Datu Cup MVP award |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/bacoor-s-gab-banal-beats-out-mark-yee-for-mpbl-datu-cup-mvp-award-a2437-20190422 |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>
Manila came back stronger for the [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019–20 season]], finishing 25–5, clinching the second seed in the [[2020 MPBL playoffs|2020 playoffs]]. The team first beat [[Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors|Pasig]] in the First Round, but feel short in the Division Semifinals against [[Makati Super Crunch|Makati]]. Once again, Manila won game 1, yet Makati won the rest of the series. Dionisio became a two-time all-star while he and Bitoon both made the [[All-MPBL Second Team]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-21 |title=John Wilson crowned MPBL MVP |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/john-wilson-crowned-mpbl-mvp/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref>
====2021–2023: Out of contention==== For the [[2021 MPBL Invitational|2021 Invitational]], Manila tapped [[Pocholo Villanueva]] as their head coach, but only finished third in Group D, failing to make the playoffs. Villanueva would later depart for the [[Batangas City Embassy Chill]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/24/21/cholo-villanueva-is-the-new-manila-coach-in-mpbl |title=Cholo Villanueva is the new Manila coach in MPBL |website=ABS-CBN News |date=November 24, 2021}}</ref> Following the departures of both Bitoon and Dionisio, Manila spent the next two seasons missing the playoffs, finishing 6–15 and 4–23 in the [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] and [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] seasons, respectively.
====2024–present: Return to form==== [[File:Manila Batang Sampaloc logo.png|thumb|180px|upright|right|Logo used in 2024 under the backing of [[Sam Verzosa]] and [[Strong Group Athletics]].]]
In the [[2024 MPBL season|2024 season]], the team gained the backing of the [[Strong Group Athletics]] organization, and would later be renamed as the ''Manila Batang Sampaloc'', or officially, the ''Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA''. Their 2024 campaign is noted for their acquisition of four-time PBA champion [[Greg Slaughter]] among other ex-PBA players.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-25 |title=Manila triumphs over Binan as Greg Slaughter delivers in MPBL debut |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/manila-triumphs-over-binan-as-greg-slaughter-delivers-in-mpbl-debut/303798 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}</ref> With their new acquisitions, the team finished the season 20–8 for their best output since 2020 and once again claiming a top-4 position. Slaughter and [[Rabeh Al-Hussaini]] were declared all-stars in the [[2024 MPBL All-Star Game]].
However, despite that, Manila fell short in the playoffs, losing to the [[Caloocan Batang Kankaloo]] in a division quarterfinals sweep, with both games being separated by one point. After the series, the organization stated that they are unsure if they will return for the [[2025 MPBL season]], citing financial difficulties and "uneven officiating".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-14 |title=COLUMN: Manila Stars' future dim after another early playoff exit |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/mpbl/column-manila-stars-future-dim-after-another-early-playoff-exit-a2244-20241014?ref=article_tag |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Manila Stars considering withdrawal from MPBL |url=https://fastbreak.com.ph/manila-stars-considering-withdrawal-from-mpbl/sports-galore/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=fastbreak.com.ph |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Pilipinas Super League=== The Stars came to the PSL for the 2022 DUMPER Cup during the MPBL's off-season. Finishing 9–6 in the conference, Manila tied with Boracay and [[Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan|Bulacan]] for seventh. The team managed to settle for eighth but lost to the [[San Juan Kings]] in the quarterfinals.
==Team identity== The original ''Stars'' name can be traced back to the [[Manila Metrostars]] of the now-defunct [[Metropolitan Basketball Association]]. The team's logos until 2023 featured silhouettes of some of Manila's historic landmarks, such as the [[Rizal Monument]] and [[Manila Cathedral]]. Manila's color scheme has always used blue as the primary color.
== Home venues == The Manila franchise has played most of their home games at [[San Andres Sports Complex]] since joining the MPBL. In 2022 and 2024, a portion of their home slate was played at Paco Arena. In 2025, the team began playing games at the historic [[Rizal Memorial Coliseum]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Venue ! Location ! Capacity ! [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19]] ! [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019–20]] ! [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] ! [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] ! [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] ! [[2025 MPBL season|2025]] |- | align=left | [[San Andres Sports Complex]] | align=left rowspan=3 | [[Manila]] | align=center | 3,000 | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} |- | align=left | Paco Arena | align=center | 1,000 | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} |- | align=left | [[Rizal Memorial Coliseum]] | align=center | 6,100 | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="FFCFCF" | {{n}} | bgcolor="CFFFCF" | {{y}} |}
==Current roster== {{Manila Batang Quiapo roster}}
===Head coaches===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! colspan="6" style="{{MPBL color cell|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" | Manila Batang Quiapo head coaches |- ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" | # ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" | Name ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" | Start ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" | End ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" class="unsortable" | Achievements ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Manila Batang Quiapo}}" class="unsortable" | Ref. |- | align=center | 1 || {{sortname|Philip|Cezar}} | [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018]] || [[2018–19 MPBL season|2019]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 2 || {{sortname|Tino|Pinat}} | [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019]] || [[2019–20 MPBL season|2020]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 3 || {{sortname|Pocholo|Villanueva}} | [[2021 MPBL Invitational|2021]] || [[2021 MPBL Invitational|2021]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 4 || {{sortname|Max|Dayandante}} | [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] || [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 5 || {{sortname|Tylon|Darjuan}} | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 6 || {{sortname|Bam|Ledesma}} | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 7 || {{sortname|Bimbot|Anquilo}} | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 8 || {{sortname|Gabby|Severino}} | [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] || [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 9 || {{sortname|Ariel|Vanguardia}} | [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] || [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] | align=center | — | |- | align=center | 10 || {{sortname|Max|Dayandante}} | [[2025 MPBL season|2025]] || ''current'' | align=center | — | |}
==Notable players==
=== Individual award winners === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''[[MPBL Defensive Player of the Year]]''' * [[Aris Dionisio]] – [[2018–19 MPBL season|2019]] {{col-3}} '''[[All-MPBL Team|All-MPBL First Team]]''' * [[Chris Bitoon]] – [[2018–19 MPBL season|2019]] * [[Aris Dionisio]] – 2019 {{col-3}} '''All-MPBL Second Team''' * [[Chris Bitoon]] – [[2019–20 MPBL season|2020]] * [[Aris Dionisio]] – 2020 * [[Greg Slaughter]] – [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] {{col-end}}
=== MPBL All-Star Day === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''[[MPBL All-Star Game|All-Star selections]]''' * [[Chris Bitoon]] – [[2019 MPBL All-Star Game|2019]] * [[Aris Dionisio]] – 2019, [[2020 MPBL All-Star Game|2020]] * [[Ronnie Matias]] – [[2022 MPBL All-Star Game|2022]] * [[Rabeh Al-Hussaini]] – [[2024 MPBL All-Star Game|2024]] * [[Greg Slaughter]] – 2024 {{col-end}}
=== PBA players === {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''[[List of Philippine Basketball Association players|Ex-PBA players]]''' * [[Marcy Arellano]] * [[JR Cawaling]] * [[Reil Cervantes]] * [[Gabby Espinas]] * [[Jeric Fortuna]] * [[Marvin Hayes (basketball)|Marvin Hayes]] * [[Carlo Lastimosa]] * [[Ronnie Matias]] * [[Greg Slaughter]] * [[Mac Tallo]] * [[Roger Yap]] {{col-3}} '''[[Philippine Basketball Association draft|Drafted to PBA]]''' * [[Aris Dionisio]] – 9th overall, [[2019 PBA draft|2019]] * [[Rey Mark Acuno]] – 14th overall, [[PBA season 46 draft|season 46]] * [[Mark Dyke]] – 11th overall, [[PBA season 47 draft|season 47]] * [[Jollo Go]] – 27th overall, season 47 * [[Francis Escandor]] – 13th overall, [[PBA season 49 draft|season 49]] * [[Didat Hanapi]] – 17th overall, season 49 * [[DJ Mitchell (basketball)|DJ Mitchell]] – 26th overall, season 49 {{col-end}}
==Season-by-season records== {|class="wikitable" |style="background:#FFFFCF; width:2em"| || '''League champions''' |- |style="background:#CFCFFF; width:2em"| || Division champions |- |style="background:#CFFFCF; width:2em"| || Qualified for playoffs |- |style="background:#FFCFCF; width:2em"| || Best regular season record |}
===Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League=== {|class=wikitable style="width:100%; text-align:center" |- ! rowspan=2 | Season !! colspan=7 | Regular season !! colspan=2 | Playoffs |- ! Division !! Finish !! GP !! W !! L !! PCT !! GB !! Stage !! Results |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|Manila Stars|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|Manila Stars|1}};"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">'''Manila Stars'''</span> |- | [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19]] <br> ''Datu Cup'' || [[North Division (MPBL)|North]] || bgcolor="CFFFCF" | 4th || {{Sum|20|5}} || 20 || 5 || {{Winning percentage|20|5}} || 3 || {{nowrap|Division quarterfinals}}<br>Division semifinals<br>Division finals || {{nowrap|'''won vs. Bulacan, 2–0'''}}<br>'''won vs. Bataan, 2–1'''<br>{{nowrap|lost vs. San Juan, 1–2}} |- | [[2019–20 MPBL season|2019–20]] <br> {{nowrap|''Lakan Season''}} || North || bgcolor="CFFFCF" | 2nd || {{Sum|25|5}} || 25 || 5 || {{Winning percentage|25|5}} || 1 || Division quarterfinals<br>Division semifinals || '''won vs. Pasig, 2–0'''<br>lost vs. Makati, 1–2 |- | [[2022 MPBL season|2022]] || North || 10th || {{Sum|6|15}} || 6 || 15 || {{Winning percentage|6|15}} || 15 || rowspan="2" colspan="2" | ''Did not qualify'' |- | [[2023 MPBL season|2023]] || North || 13th || {{Sum|4|23}} || 4 || 23 || {{Winning percentage|4|23}} || 21.5 |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Sampaloc|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Sampaloc|1}};"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">'''Manila SV Batang Sampaloc'''</span> |- | [[2024 MPBL season|2024]] || North || bgcolor="CFFFCF" | 4th || 28 || 20 || 8 || {{Winning percentage|20|8}} || 6 || Division quarterfinals || lost vs. Caloocan, 0–2 |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Quiapo|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|Manila Batang Quiapo|1}};"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">'''Manila Batang Quiapo'''</span> |- | [[2025 MPBL season|2025]] || North || 14th || 29 || 4 || 25 || {{Winning percentage|4|25}} || 24 || colspan=2 | ''Did not qualify'' |- !colspan=3 | All-time regular season record !! {{Sum|79|81}} !! 79 !! 81 !! {{Winning percentage|79|81}} !! rowspan=3 | !! colspan=3 | 3 playoff appearances |- !colspan=3 | All-time playoff record !! {{Sum|8|7}} !! 8 !! 7 !! {{Winning percentage|8|7}} !! colspan=3 | 0 finals appearances |- !colspan=3 | All-time overall record !! {{Sum|87|88}} !! 87 !! 88 !! {{Winning percentage|87|88}} !! colspan=3 | 0 championships |}
===Pilipinas Super League=== {|class=wikitable style="width:100%; text-align:center" |- ! rowspan=2 | Season !! colspan=4 | Elimination round !! colspan=2 | Playoffs |- ! Finish !! W !! L !! PCT !! Stage !! Results |- | colspan=10 style="{{box-shadow border|a|#{{MPBL color|Manila City Stars|3}}|2px}}; background-color:#{{MPBL color|Manila City Stars|1}};"|<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">'''Manila CityStars'''</span> |- | [[2022–23 Pilipinas Super League DUMPER Cup|2022–23]]<br> ''DUMPER Cup'' || bgcolor="CFFFCF" | 8th || 9 || 6 || {{Winning percentage|9|6}} || {{nowrap|Quarterfinals}} || {{nowrap|lost vs. San Juan, 0–1}} |- | [[2023–24 Pilipinas Super League President's Cup|2023–24]] <br> {{nowrap|''President's Cup''}} || bgcolor="#CFFFCF" | 14th || 5 || 13 || {{Winning percentage|5|13}} || First Round || {{nowrap|lost vs. Nueva Ecija, 0–1}} |- !colspan=2 | All-time elimination round record !! 14 || 19 || {{Winning percentage|14|19}} !! colspan=3 | 2 playoff appearances |- !colspan=2 | All-time playoff record !! 0 !! 1 !! {{Winning percentage|0|2}} !! colspan=3 | 0 Finals appearances |- !colspan=2 | All-time overall record !! 9 !! 7 !! {{Winning percentage|14|21}} !! colspan=3 | 0 championships |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Manila Batang Sampaloc}} {{navboxes|list= {{MPBL}} {{Metro Manila Sports}} }}
[[Category:Manila Batang Quiapo| ]] [[Category:MPBL teams]] [[Category:Pilipinas Super League teams]] [[Category:2018 establishments in the Philippines]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 2018]] [[Category:Sports in Manila]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Metro Manila]]