Bataan Risers

The Bataan Risers, also known as 1Bataan Risers–Camaya Coast for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Bataan. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and split their home games between Bataan People's Center in Balanga and Orion Sports Complex in Orion

Bataan Risers
2024 Bataan Risers season
LeagueMPBL
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
HistoryBataan Defenders
2018
Bataan Risers
2018–present
ArenaBataan People's Center
Orion Sports Complex
LocationBataan
Team colors     
Main sponsorCamaya Coast
Head coachRene Baena

The Bataan franchise began play in 2018 as one of the MPBL's charter teams, originally going by the Bataan Defenders before switching to its current name the following season. Since its founding, the team is owned by the Provincial Government of Bataan.[1]

Bataan also fielded a team in 3x3 basketball in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 and has also participated in the 2019 FIBA 3x3 World Tour as the Balanga Chooks.

History

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Logo of the Bataan Risers used during the 2018–19 season.

Bataan joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as one of the ten charter teams for the league's inaugural season. The Defenders were one of two Central Luzon teams at the time, the other being the Bulacan Kuyas. In their inaugural season, as the Bataan Defenders, the team barely made the playoffs as it shared a 2–7 record with the Imus Bandera, but was able to clinch the last spot as they beat Imus in their head-to-head matchup. The team was swept in the Quarterfinals to the eventual champion Batangas City Athletics.

For the 2018–19 season, the team changed its name to the Bataan Risers. Coincidentally, that season saw the team rise to the league's best record that season with a record of 23–2. After sweeping the Caloocan Supremos in the First Round, they would fall in an upset against the Manila Stars in the Division Semifinals.

In the 2019–20 season, Bataan made the playoffs for the third consecutive season but lost to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the First Round. The team then opted out of participating in the 2021 Invitational before returning in 2022. During the 2022 season, all of the team's home games were placed at Orion Sports Complex in Orion. where they made the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year, but once again lost to Pampanga in the First Round.

In the 2023 season, Bataan returned to the Bataan People's Center. It also saw the team host that season's All-Star Game. Bataan's race to the playoffs has been close, but unfortunately, they finished the season one game below .500 with a 13–15 record. Placing ninth in the North Division, Bataan missed the playoffs for the first time in the team's history, leaving the Batangas City Embassy Chill as the only founding member to never miss the playoffs.

Home venues

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The Bataan franchise used the Bataan People's Center as their home venue in every season they played in except 2022, when they exclusively used the Orion Sports Complex (also referred to as Kamalig Sports Complex), which they would later utilize in 2024.

VenueLocation20182018–192019–20202220232024
Bataan People's CenterBalanga, Bataan Y Y Y N Y Y
Orion Sports ComplexOrion, Bataan N N N Y N Y

Current roster

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PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G1Ramirez, Edrian Mark (SGL)5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)Immaculada Concepcion
G2Bringas, Carl6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)TUP
G3Lastimosa, Ron6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)National-U
F5Ramos, Alex6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
C6Acuño, Rey Mark6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)226 lb (103 kg)1994–08–29UE
G7Formento, Jan5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)Centro Escolar
F8Darang, Robbi Marion (SGL)5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)Diliman
F10Soriano, Jeremiah6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)UE
F/C11Octobre, Rhaffy6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)1992–01–27Visayas
F12Paguio Jr., Dante (HG)6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
G13Castro, James Darwin (HG)5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
C14Abastillas, Joshua6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Arellano
G15Vera, Dominick5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
F/C16Bringas, Arvie (HG)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Far Eastern
G22Sazon, Yves (HG)6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)Philippine Christian
G25Torrado, Kristoffer5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
F28Grimaldo, Jayson6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)180 lb (82 kg)MLQU
G28Santos, Jeff6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)Lyceum
F39Gabawan, Jamil (HG)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)1990–03–19Letran
F45Maynes, Mitchelle6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Head coach
  • Rene Baena
Assistant coach(es)
  • Louie Cortina
  • Ernie Laurel
  • Prinz Cruz
  • Brian Gorospe
  • Marvin Molines
Team manager
  • Woody Co

Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • Injured

Updated as of: April 8, 2024

Head coaches

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#NameTermRef.
1Jay Sierra2018
2Kerwin McCoy2018
3Jojo Lastimosa2018–2019
4Jong Uichico2019
5Jonas Villanueva2019–2020
6JR Villanueva2022
7Ricky Dandan20222023
8Alex Callueng2023
9Rene Baena2024

Notable players

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Bataan Risers notable players
PlayerPositionTenureAwardsAll-Star
Gary David[2]2018–20201 (2019)
Alfred Batino2018–20201 (2020)
Arvie Bringas2018–present1 (2022)
Yves Sazon2023–present1 (2023)

Season-by-season records

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League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
DivisionFinishGPWLPCTGBStageResults
Bataan Defenders
2018
Rajah Cup
8th927.2226Quarterfinalslost vs. Batangas City, 0–2
Bataan Risers
2018–19
Datu Cup
North1st25232.920First Round
Division Semifinals
won vs Caloocan, 2–0
lost vs. Manila 1–2
2019–20
Lakan Season
North5th302010.6676First Roundlost vs. Pampanga, 0–2
2022North5th21138.6198First Roundlost vs. Pampanga, 1–2
2023North9th281315.46413Did not qualify
2024NorthTo be determined
All-time regular season record1137142.6284 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record1248.3330 Finals appearances
All-time overall record1257550.6000 championships

References

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  1. ^ Joble, Rey (January 15, 2018). "Bataan Defenders of Bai Shipping join MPBL". Business World. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Leongson, Randolph (January 23, 2018). "Gary David 'honored' to play for hometown Bataan in MPBL". Inquirer.Net. Retrieved February 12, 2018.