Imus Agimat Explained

Imus Agimat
Current:2024 Imus Agimat season
League:MPBL (2018–present)
History:Imus (City) Bandera
2018–2022
Imus Khaleb Shawarma
2019
Boracay Islanders
2022–2023 (PSL)
Imus SV Squad
2023 (MPBL)
Imus Agimat
2024–present
Arena:Imus Sports Complex
Location:Imus, Cavite
Sponsor:VA Drones
Coach:Eric Sy

The Imus Agimat is a Filipino professional basketball team based in Imus, Cavite. The team currently 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 Imus Sports Complex.[1]

The team joined in 2018 as a charter team of the MPBL. For a majority of their history, the team was known as the Imus Bandera, a reference to Imus being known as the "Flag Capital of the Philippines".

History

2018–2023: Original franchise

The team began play in 2018 as one of the ten founding teams of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The team lost a tiebreaker to the Bataan Defenders that would have given it the final playoff spot. In the 2018–19 season, Imus would make its first playoff appearance, but lost to the Batangas City Athletics in the First Round. In the 2019–20 season, the team ended the season with a record of 6-24, the second-worst in the league.

The team saw potential in the 2021 Invitational, after leading 4-1 in Group D, they would go on to finish in fourth place. However, in the following 2022 season, the team finished ninth in the Southern Division, once again failing to make the playoffs.

During the 2023 season, Imus have acquired nine-time PBA champion Marc Pingris, making it his first stint in professional basketball since he announced his retirement. The SV Squad finished 7th in the South Division with a 15–13, their best season by win percentage, but would fall once again to Batangas City Embassy Chill in the Division Quarterfinals.

2024: Current franchise

After the 2023 season, the SV Squad organization would leave Imus for Biñan to form a new team, the Biñan Tatak Gel. Imus' slot in the MPBL would be filled in with a new team, known as the Imus Agimat.

Current roster

Head coaches

NameTermRef.
align=center 1 Nandy Garcia 2018
align=center 2 Jerry Codiñera 2018
align=center 3 Mike Orquillas 2018
align=center 4 Noynoy Falcasantos 2018–19
align=center 5 Jonathan Reyes 2019
align=center 6 Mac Cuan 2019
align=center 7 Eugene Tan 2019
align=center 8 Raymund Valenzona 2019–20
align=center 9 Manuel Torralba, Jr. 20212022
align=center 10 Renniel Cabrera 2022
align=center 11 Jinino Manansala 2023
align=center 12 Jun De Jose 2024–present

Notable players

Imus Agimat notable players
PlayerPositionTenureAwardsAll-Star
Ian Melencio 2018–2019
2022
align=left 1 (2019)
2019–2020 align=left 1 (2020)
2022 align=left 1 (2022)
Poypoy Actub 2023 align=left 1 (2023)
Jimboy Estrada 2023 align=left 1 (2023)

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs
Division FinishGP W L PCT GBStage Results
Imus Bandera
2018
None 9th 9 2 7 6 Did not qualify
2018–19
Datu Cup
South 7th 25 11 14 9
2019–20
South 14th 30 6 24 20 Did not qualify
Imus City Bandera
South 9th 21 5 16 13 Did not qualify
Imus SV Squad
South 7th 28 15 13 8 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Batangas City, 0–2
Imus Agimat
South To be determined Eliminated from playoff contention
All-time regular season record 39 74 2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 1 4 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 40 78 0 championships

Notes and References

  1. News: GALLERY: MPBL opening ceremony. Flores. Joaqui. January 25, 2018. Tiebreaker Times. February 12, 2018.