Bacolod City of Smiles
LeagueMPBL
Founded2019 (2019)
HistoryBacolod Master Sardines (2019–2020)
All-Star Bacolod Ballers (2021)
Bacolod Bingo Plus (2022)
Bacolod City of Smiles / Bacolod Maskaras (2023–present)
ArenaLa Salle Coliseum
LocationBacolod, Negros Occidental
Team colors   
Head coachMonel Kallos

The Bacolod City of Smiles, alternatively known as the Bacolod Maskaras, is a Filipino professional basketball team based in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of three teams based in Western Visayas. Bacolod is also one of two teams based in Negros island, the other team being the Negros Muscovados, with both teams playing their home games at La Salle Coliseum. The team was founded as the Bacolod Master Sardines when it began play in the 2019–20 season.[1]

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

The Bacolod Master Sardines joined the MPBL as an expansion team for the 2019–20 season, becoming one of the first two teams from Western Visayas alongside fellow expansion side Iloilo United Royals.[1][2] In its inaugural season, Bacolod finished 11–19, 11th in the South Division.

In the 2021 MPBL Invitational, the team entered as the All-Star Bacolod Ballers and was drawn into Group A alongside future expansion team Negros Muscovados. In the group stage, the All-Star Ballers finished 3–2, finishing third in the group, failing to make the playoffs.

In the 2022 season, reigning Finals MVP Mark Yee joined Bacolod. Yee helped bring the team to its first playoff appearance, finished 5th in the South Division with a 14–7 record. Yee went on to win Defensive Player of the Year honors. The team beat fourth-seeded GenSan in the First Round,[3] and forced a Game 3 against first-seeded Zamboanga in the Division Semifinals but ended up losing that game.[4] Before the 2023 season, some of its players, including Yee and Jhan Nermal left the team to join the Bacoor City Strikers.[5] Bacolod dropped to 9th, one game behind 8th-seeded Iloilo to once again miss the playoffs with an 11–17 record.

FilBasket

The team was invited to FilBasket for its 2022 Summer Championship before beginning its 2022 MPBL campaign. Bacolod finished third in the elimination round with seven wins and made the semifinals before losing to the Nueva Ecija Capitals in two games.[6]

Team identity

The team's current identity derives from Bacolod's moniker as the "City of Smiles" in the country. The alternate name, Maskaras, alludes to the MassKara Festival which is held in Bacolod.

Current roster

Bacolod City of Smiles roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOBFrom
3 Philippines Chauca, Valandre
5 Philippines Basibas, Regie Boy
6 Philippines Sarangay, Mark
8 Philippines Matillano, Domark Legario
13 Philippines Alves, Coy
15 Philippines Alano, Justin
17 Philippines Magbanua, Carl (HG)
18 Philippines Sedillo, Alfred (HG)
21 Philippines Arciaga, Ronelle Jordan
22 Philippines Cantimbuhan, John
26 Philippines Stevens, Andretti
29 Philippines Menguez, Christopher (HG)
55 Philippines Koga, Ryusei
Head coach
  • Philippines Monel Kallos
Legend
  • (EP) Ex-PBA
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • Injured Injured

Notable players

Bacolod City of Smiles notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Paolo Javelona2019–2020—1 (2020)
Mark Yee20221x Defensive Player of the Year (2022)1 (2022)

Season-by-season records

Records as of the 2023 MPBL season:
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2019–20
Lakan Cup		Bacolod Master SardinesSouth11th/151119.367Did not qualify
2022
Mumbaki Cup		Bacolod Bingo Plus5th/11147.667First Roundwon vs. General Santos, 2–1
Division Semifinalslost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2023Bacolod City of Smiles9th/141117.393Did not qualify
Total elimination round3643.4561 playoff appearance
Total playoffs33.5000 Finals appearances
Total franchise3946.4590 championships

References

  1. 1 2 "Tallo leads Bacolod team in Maharlika basketball". Panay News. June 13, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Panerio, Jonas (October 23, 2019). "Coach drops Tallo 5 days after Bacolod loses to Cebu". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ "MPBL: GenSan stays alive vs Bacolod; Zamboanga enters semis". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ Co, Adrian Stewart (November 17, 2022). "Bacolod exits 2022 MPBL tournament". Panay News. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Vintage Mark Yee steers Bacoor to winning start in MPBL". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "San Juan, Nueva Ecija sweep rivals to arrange clash for Filbasket crown". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
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