Zamboanga Valientes

{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{infobox basketball club | name = Zamboanga Valientes | current = | logo = Zamboanga Valientes.png | logo_size = 220px | league = MVBA (2006–2008) [[National Basketball Conference|NBC]] (2006–2008) [[Liga Pilipinas]] (2008–2011) [[National Basketball League (Philippines)|NBL–Pilipinas]] (2018–2021) [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League|MPBL]] (2018) [[Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3]] (2019–2022) [[Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup]] (2021–2023) [[PBA 3x3]] (2021–2022) [[ASEAN Basketball League|ABL]] (2023) The Asian Tournament (2024–present) | founded = 2006 | history = '''Zamboanga Latinos''' (2006–2008) '''Zamboanga Amores''' (2008–2010) '''Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Valientes''' (2018) '''Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV''' (2020–present) | location = [[Zamboanga City]], [[Philippines]] | colors = Red, Dark Violet, White, Black {{Color box|#FF0000}} {{Color box|#210A79}} {{Color box|White}} {{Color box|Black}} | sponsor = | coach = Bobedick delos Santos | h_body = FFFFFF | h_pattern_b = _redyellowsides | h_shorts = FFFFFF | h_pattern_s = _whitehavenhome | a_body = 210A79 | a_pattern_b = _redyellowsides | a_shorts = 210A79 | a_pattern_s = _whitehavenhome | 3_body = 000000 | 3_pattern_b = _redyellowsides | 3_shorts = 000000 | 3_pattern_s = _whitehavenhome | championship = }}

The '''Zamboanga Valientes''', also known as the '''Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV''', are a Filipino professional [[basketball]] team based in the [[Zamboanga Peninsula]]. The team has competed in numerous leagues since its founding in 2006.

The team first competed as the '''Zamboanga Latinos''' when it was part of both the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) and [[National Basketball Conference]] (NBC). Following the merge of the both leagues into [[Liga Pilipinas]] in 2008, the team was renamed to '''Zamboanga Amores''' and competed until 2010.

Eight years later, the team was revived in 2018 as part of the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]]'s (MPBL) national expansion under its current moniker. However, undisclosed management issues led to [[Zamboanga Sikat|the MPBL department]] splitting in 2019. Since the split, the Valientes have continued to compete in a variety of leagues and have also fielded a [[3x3 basketball|3x3]] team.

==History==

===Early history=== The Zamboanga Valientes was established in 2006 by Lando Navarro as a means to give a platform for Zamboangueño basketball players.<ref name="tojoin-abl">{{cite news |title=Zamboanga Valientes to join ABL Invitational 2023 |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/26/zamboanga-valientes-to-join-abl-invitational-2023/ |access-date=December 10, 2022 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=November 26, 2022}}</ref> The team has participated in various commercial and regional leagues including the [[National Basketball Conference]] in 2006, and the [[Liga Pilipinas]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zamboanga Valientes, the dark horse of Chooks 3x3 |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/28/zamboanga-valientes-the-dark-horse-of-chooks-3x3/ |access-date=October 28, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=October 28, 2020}}</ref> After Lando's death, the club was taken over by Cory Navarro and Mike Venezuela, affiliated with the MLV Accounting.<ref name="tojoin-abl"/>

===Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League=== {{See also|Zamboanga Sikat}} The team played in the [[Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League]] (MPBL) as the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Valientes, as an expansion team for the [[2018–19 MPBL season|2018–19 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=MPBL newcomer Zamboanga ready to make noise |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/204472-mpbl-new-team-zamboanga-valientes/ |access-date=October 28, 2020 |work=Rappler |date=June 9, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

Due to management issues, however, the team announced that it will relaunch as the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines beginning with the 2019 calendar year. The move effectively split the team into two, with the relaunched ZFAMS succeeding the Valientes in the MPBL while the Valientes themselves continue to compete in other leagues.<ref>{{cite news |title='Valientes' to be re-launched as Zambo Family's Brand Sardines |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1057666 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |work=www.pna.gov.ph |date=December 29, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

===Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3=== The Zamboanga Valientes was among the pioneer teams of the [[Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3]] league which played in the [[2019 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 season|inaugural season in 2018]].<ref name="tofield">{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=Zamboanga Valientes MLV to field homegrown players in Chooks 3x3 |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/zamboanga-valientes-to-field-homegrown-players-in-chooks-3x3-a795-20201014?ref=home_feed_1 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |work=Spin.ph |date=October 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The [[2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 season|2020 season]] saw both the Valientes and Family Brand's Sardines compete, marking the first time both teams competed in the same league since the aforementioned split.

For the 2020 season which was organized within a "bubble" format due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Valientes fielded an all-Zamboangeño team, with all players native to [[Zamboanga City]].<ref name="tofield"/>

===Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup=== The Zamboanga Valientes as JPS Zamboanga City MLV fielded a team at the [[Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luarca |first1=Roy |title=MLV Group backs Zamboanga Valientes' sports programs |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/07/12/2111972/mlv-group-backs-zamboanga-valientes-sports-programs |access-date=July 13, 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=July 12, 2021}}</ref>

===PBA 3x3=== Zamboanga Valientes received an invitation to participate in [[2021 PBA 3x3 season|the inaugural season]] of the [[PBA 3x3]] league in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lozada |first1=Bong |title=Zamboanga Valientes set to join PBA 3×3 |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/418893/zamboanga-valientes-set-to-join-pba-3x3 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 26, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> It became the first non-franchise team to confirm its participation in the PBA league.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zamboanga City Valientes joining PBA 3×3 tourney |url=http://www.tempo.com.ph/2021/03/26/zamboanga-city-valientes-joining-pba-3x3-tourney/ |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=Tempo |date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326080909/http://www.tempo.com.ph/2021/03/26/zamboanga-city-valientes-joining-pba-3x3-tourney/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Tausug Hero' looking to make mark in PBA 3X3 |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/20/21/tausug-hero-looking-to-make-mark-in-pba-3x3 |access-date=November 21, 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=November 20, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The team took a leave of absence for the second conference of the season due to its roster being hampered by injuries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacnis |first1=Justine |title=Zamboanga Valientes take leave of absence for PBA 3x3 second conference |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/zamboanga-valientes-take-leave-of-absence-for-pba-3x3-second-conference/231624 |access-date=February 15, 2022 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=February 14, 2022}}</ref>

===ASEAN Basketball League=== On November 26, 2022, it was announced that the Valientes would be the Philippine representatives for the [[2023 ABL season|ABL Invitational 2023]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2022 |title=Zamboanga Valientes to join ABL Invitational 2023 |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/11/26/2226612/zamboanga-valientes-join-abl-invitational-2023 |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

===Potential acquisition of Terrafirma Dyip=== On April 28, 2025, it was reported that the Valientes were in talks to acquire the [[Terrafirma Dyip]] franchise of the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] (PBA). Team owner Junjie Navarro stated confirmed in an article with ''SPIN.ph'' that the team has met with Terrafirma and that "it's almost a done deal". This came a few days after [[Starhorse Shipping Lines]]' attempted acquisition of the Terrafirma franchise fell through.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=gerry |date=2025-04-28 |title=Valientes say acquisition of Terrafirma team 'almost a done deal' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/zamboanga-valientes-buying-pba-team-of-terrafirma-dyip-a793-20250428 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}</ref>

===Other=== After the [[2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 season]], Zamboanga Valientes decided to begin competing in international tournaments.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zamboanga Valientes MLV to compete in Australia |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/09/zamboanga-valientes-mlv-to-compete-in-australia/ |access-date=December 10, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=December 9, 2020}}</ref> They competed and won the title in the 3X3 Christmas Hustle which was organized in Canberra, Australia in December 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luarca |first1=Roy |title=Zamboanga Valientes tops Australia 3x3 tilt, makes Philippine basketball history |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/12/13/2063512/zamboanga-valientes-tops-australia-3x3-tilt-makes-philippine-basketball-history |access-date=December 13, 2020 |work=The Philippine Star |date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> ==Management== The Zamboanga Valientes is supported by local businesspeople Cory Navarro and Mike Venezuela and had sanction from former [[Zamboanga City]] mayor [[Beng Climaco]].<ref name="tofield"/> Joseph Romarante is the team's vice president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yalung |first=Brian |date=January 1, 2023 |title=Zamboanga Valientes set modest goal in ABL Invitational 2023 stint |url=https://sports.ptvnews.ph/zamboanga-valientes-set-modest-goal-in-abl-invitational-2023-stint/ |access-date=January 3, 2023 |website=PTV Sports |language=en-US |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103083856/https://sports.ptvnews.ph/zamboanga-valientes-set-modest-goal-in-abl-invitational-2023-stint/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Season by season== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" | align="center" bgcolor="gold" |'''Champions''' | align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6BD" |'''Season champions''' | align="center" bgcolor="silver" |'''Runners-up''' | align="center" bgcolor="#96CDCD" |'''Finals berth''' |}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" summary="Season (sortable), Team, Conference, Conference finish (sortable), Division, Division finish (sortable), Wins (sortable), Losses (sortable), Win% (sortable), GB (sortable), Playoffs, Awards and Head coach" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Season ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |League ! colspan="5" scope="col" |Regular season ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Playoffs ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Head coach |- ! scope="col" |Finish ! scope="col" |Played ! scope="col" |Wins ! scope="col" |Losses ! scope="col" |[[Winning percentage|Win%]] |- | style="text-align:center;"|[[2023 ABL season|2023]] | style="text-align:center;"|[[ASEAN Basketball League|ABL]] | style="text-align:center;"|6th | style="text-align:center;"|14 | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|7 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winpct|7|7}} | style="text-align:center;"|Did not qualify | style="text-align:center;"|Expedito de los Santos |}

==2024 roster== {{Basketball roster header|from=y|dob=y | team = Zamboanga Valientes | color1 = white | bg1 = #412890 | color2 = #412890 | bg2 = white }} {{player3|num=5|first=Peter|last=Alfaro|pos=G|m=1.80|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|college=[[San Beda]]|nat=PHI}} {{player3|num=11|first=AJ|last=Benson|pos=F|m=1.96|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|college=[[College of St. Benilde]]|nat=PHI|nat2=USA}} {{player3|num=24|first=Jerome|last=Ferrer|pos=SF|m=1.91|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|college=|nat=PHI}} {{player3|num=3|first=Joewish|last=Gracia|pos=GF|m=1.80|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|nat=PHI}} {{player3|num=12|first=Das|last=Esa|pos=G|m=1.78|kgs=|year=1994|month=11|date=12|college=|nat=PHI}} {{player3|num=17|first=Job|last=Alcantara|pos=G|m=1.78|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|nat=PHI}} {{player3|num=14|first=Med|last=Salim|pos=SF|m=1.93|kgs=|year=|month=|date=|nat=PHI}} {{Player3|num=16|first=Franky|last=Johnson|pos=SF|m=1.88|kgs=75|year=1993|month=8|day=15|nat=USA|note=WI}} {{player3|num=8|first=Rudy|last=Lingganay|pos=G|m=1.78|kgs=77|year=1986|month=8|date=5|college=UE|nat= PHI|note=C|from=[[Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters]]}} {{player3|num=15|first=DeMarcus|last=Cousins|pos=PF|m=2.08|kgs=122|year=1990|month=8|date=13|nat=USA|from=[[Taiwan Mustangs]]|note=WI}} {{player3|num=28|first=Mac|last=Belo|pos=SF/PF|m=1.93|kgs=84|year=1993|month=2|day=12|nat=PHI|from=Free agent}} {{Player3|num=10|first=Malick|last=Diouf|pos=C|m=2.11|nat=SEN|note=WI}} {{Player3|num=13|first=Mike|last=Tolomia|pos=G|m=1.80|kgs=82|year=1993|month=1|day=6|nat=PHI}} {{Player3|num=45|first=Nick|last=Evans|pos=PF|dab=basketball|m=2.10|kgs=113|year=1988|day=14|month=4|nat=USA|note=WI}} {{Player3|num=4|first=Ik|last=Akpuru|pos=F|m=2.01|nat=USA|note=WI}}{{Basketball roster footer|WI=y | head_coach = {{player||PHI|Expedito de los Santos}} | asst_coach = {{player||PHI|Paolo Romero}} | con = | team_man = | roster_url = | AI = y }} This is the lineup of the Valientes for The Asian Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payo |first=Jasmine |date=2024-04-14 |title=Zamboanga Valientes out to contend in Asian tilt, eye Dwight Howard as import |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/zamboanga-valientes-2024-asian-tournament-eye-dwight-howard-import/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable players== * [[Ryan Buenafe]] * [[Mario Chalmers]] * [[Mark Cardona|Mac Cardona]] * [[DeMarcus Cousins]] * [[Chito Jaime]] * [[Reed Juntilla]] * [[Jaycee Marcelino]] * [[Eric Rodriguez (basketball)|Eric Rodriguez]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{navboxes|list= {{ASEAN Basketball League}} {{MPBL former teams}} {{PBA 3x3}} {{Mindanao Sports}} }}

[[Category:Zamboanga City]] [[Category:Basketball teams in the Philippines]] [[Category:Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 teams]] [[Category:Liga Pilipinas teams]] [[Category:MPBL former teams|Zamboanga]] [[Category:National Basketball Conference teams]] [[Category:National Basketball League (Philippines) teams]] [[Category:PBA 3x3 teams]] [[Category:2006 establishments in the Philippines]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 2006]]