Biñan Tatak Gel Explained

Biñan Tatak Gel
Current:2024 Biñan Tatak Gel season
League:MPBL (2018–present)
PSL (2023–present)
History:Laguna Heroes
2018–2019, 2021–2022
Biñan City Heroes
2019
Biñan City Luxxe White
2019–2020
Laguna Krah Asia
2023
Biñan Tatak Gel
2023–present
Arena:Alonte Sports Arena
Location:Biñan, Laguna
Owner:Monching Talisayon
Angelo Alonte
Sponsor:Beast Motorcycle Tires
GameX Sports
Coach:Boyet Fernandez

The Biñan Tatak Gel is a Filipino professional basketball team based in Biñan, Laguna. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are one of five teams based in the Calabarzon region and play their home games at Alonte Sports Arena.

The team began play during the 2018–19 season as the Laguna Heroes.[1] [2] The original name references the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal, who was born in Calamba. The team has also played in the Pilipinas Super League.

As of 2023, the Laguna/Biñan-based franchise is the oldest such in the MPBL to have yet to make a playoff appearance. They are also tied with the Parañaque Patriots for the longest playoff drought in the league, both having missed the playoffs in the last four seasons.

Biñan Tatak Gel is a name that is shared with multiple Biñan-based teams in the grassroots level, including its volleyball counterpart in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association. The moniker itself is a nod to the city's vice mayor, Angelo "Gel" Alonte.[3]

History

2018–2023: Original franchise

The Laguna Heroes joined the MPBL as one of sixteen expansion teams for the 2018–19 season. The team finished with a 10-15 record, finishing ninth in the South Division.

For the 2019–20 season, the team was renamed as the BIñan City Krah Heroes and later as Biñan City Luxxe White. The team finished in tenth with a 12-18 record, matching their winning percentage from last season.

Entering the 2021 Invitational, the team was renamed as Laguna Heroes Krah Asia, bringing back the team's old name. In the Invitational, the team lost in all of their group stage games. In the 2022 season, the team only won three of their 21 games, giving them the second-worst record in the division and third-worst in the league.

In 2023, the team was renamed to Laguna Krah Asia.

2023–present: Current franchise

In November 2023, a new team under the name Biñan Tatak Gel joined the Pilipinas Super League during the Pilipinas Super League for the 2023–24 President's Cup. The team is mainly composed of the former Imus SV Squad organization alongside members of the departing Pasig City MCW Sports team, including head coach Boyet Fernandez. With a 17–1 record, Biñan held the top seed that season. Despite making through the first two rounds, Biñan would eventually lose to the eventual champion Quezon Titans in the semifinals.

As the 2024 MPBL season began, the Tatak Gel team took over the Krah Asia's spot as Laguna's MPBL representatives.

Current roster

Head coaches

NameTermRef.
align=center 1 Alexander Angeles 2018
align=center 2 Nath Gregorio 2018–19
align=center 3 Alexander Angeles 2019
align=center 4 2019–20
align=center 5 Victor Escudero 2021
align=center 5 Nath Gregorio 20222023
align=center 6 Boyet Fernandez 2024

Notable players

Biñan Tatak Gel notable players
PlayerPositionTenureAwardsAll-Star
Michael Mabulac[4] 2018–2019 align=left 1x All-MPBL Second Team (2019) align=left 1 (2019)
Paolo Pontejos 2018–2023 align=left 1 (2022)
Allan Mangahas 2019–2020 align=left 1 (2020)
2024–present align=left 1 (2024)
Kenny Rocacurva 2024–present align=left 1 (2024)

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
DivisionFinishGPWLPCTGBStageResults
Laguna Heroes
2018–19
Datu Cup
South 9th 25 10 15 10 Did not qualify
Biñan City Luxxe White
2019–20
South 10th 30 12 18 14 Did not qualify
Laguna Heroes
South 10th 21 3 18 15 Did not qualify
Laguna Krah Asia
South 13th 27 4 23 18.5 Did not qualify
Biñan Tatak Gel
South colspan=8
All-time regular season record 29 74 0 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 0 0 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 29 74 0 championships

Pilipinas Super League

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
FinishGPWLPCTGBStageResults
Biñan Tatak Gel
2023–24
1st 18 17 1 First round

Semifinals

won vs. Muntinlupa, 1–0
lost vs. Quezon, 0–2
All-time regular season record 29 74 0 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 0 0 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 29 74 0 championships

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Laguna 2nd expansion squad to join MPBL; San Juan, Makati next in line. Joble. Rey. FoxSports. May 27, 2018. April 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180406041208/http://www.foxsports.ph/basketball/837486/laguna-second-expansion-squad-join-mpbl-san-juan-makati-next-line/. dead.
  2. News: Laguna, Pasig newest expansion teams of MPBL. April 5, 2018. Rappler. May 27, 2018.
  3. News: Actor Ronnie Alonte to suit up for Biñan Tatak Gel in MPBL. Fastbreak. March 7, 2024. April 27, 2024.
  4. News: Laguna adds 2 more ex-PBA cagers to shore up MPBL squad. Joble. Rey. May 27, 2018. FoxSports. May 27, 2018.