Wikipedia - Marikina Shoemasters

The Marikina Shoemasters are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Marikina. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of three teams based in Metro Manila's Eastern District and play their home games at Marikina Sports Center.

The team began play as an expanion team fir the 2018–19 season. The name references Marikina's moniker as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines".

The team has also participated in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3. In 2023, the Shoemasters launched its junior side, the Marikina Junior Shoemasters, for the inaugural season of the Junior MPBL. Later that same year, their women's volleyball counterpart, the Marikina Lady Shoemasters, began play in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA).

History

2018–2020: Founding and initial struggles

The Marikina Shoemasters were established in 2018, as part of the MPBL's expansion lineup for the 2018–19 season. As part of the South Division, the Shoemasters, led by Yves Sazon and Erwin Sta. Maria, only managed to win eight games out of 25, putting the team at 11th place in the South.

Heading into the 2019–20 season, Marikina was realigned to the North Division, and despite keeping the same core players, the team still only won eight games in the 30-game season, putting the team at 13th in the North and missing the playoffs once again.

2022–present: Making the playoffs

The Shoemasters entered the 2022 season with a rebuilt roster led by Lorenzo Joson. Although the team only finished with an 8–13 record, it was enough to give Marikina its first playoff appearance. The team would then be swept by the undefeated Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the First Round. Although Joson would leave the team for General Santos in 2023, Marikina would add Felipe Chavez and collegiate player Marwin Dionisio alongside Joe Gomez de Liaño to its roster. Marikina went on to have a tough playoff race against the Bataan Risers, which Marikina won in the final week as they claimed the eighth seed once again. On top of that, Marikina finished 16–12, their first winning record in franchise history. In the playoffs, the Shoemasters would be swept by the top seed Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the First Round.

Marikina would also broaden its venture into sports development around this time. The Marikina Junior Shoemasters joined as part of the founding lineup of the youth-oriented Junior MPBL. Its women's volleyball counterpart, the Marikina Lady Shoemasters, was also established and will play in the inaugural season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA).

After the 2023 season, Elvis Tolentino departed Marikina after four seasons with the team, bringing his coaching duties to South Cotabato. Rysal Castro is set to succeed his role beginning in 2024.

馬里基納製鞋工匠隊是菲律賓一支職業籃球隊,以馬尼拉大都會區馬里基納市命名。

該球隊是菲律賓籃球協會(PBA)的創始成員之一,自 1975 年以來一直參加比賽。他們贏得了八次 PBA 總冠軍,最近一次是在 1996 年。

馬里基納製鞋工匠隊以其快節奏的比賽風格和遠距離射籃的能力而聞名。他們也是第一支在 PBA 比賽中使用全場緊逼防守的球隊。

該球隊的主場館是位於馬尼拉的馬里基納體育中心。他們的主教練是蒂姆·康威,球隊經理是帕特里克·阿吉拉爾。

馬里基納製鞋工匠隊是一支受歡迎的球隊,在菲律賓擁有大量球迷。他們也是 PBA 最成功的球隊之一,並一直是聯盟的常勝軍。