馬卡蒂國王

Makati Skyscrapers

Alias
馬卡蒂國王
Leagues Played
菲律賓MPBL 102
Links
Wikipedia

Wikipedia - Makati OKBet Kings

The Makati OKBet Kings were a Filipino professional basketball team based in Makati. The team last competed in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and played their home games at Makati Coliseum.

The team began play in the 2018–19 season as the Makati Skyscrapers and has since gone under multiple names. The team also competed in Filbasket as the AFP–FSD Makati Cavaliers, and in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3. In the 2023 season, the team was acquired owned and sponsored by sports betting platform and former MPBL title sponsor OKBet. The 2023 season would also be the team's last active to date.

History

2018–2020: Initial success

On April 10, 2018, the City Government of Makati launched the Makati Skyscrapers as one of 16 expansion teams for the MPBL's 2018–19 season. Out of those 16 expansion teams, Makati was the team with the best record, finishing 21–4, only behind the league-leading Bataan Risers. This success, however, cannot be matched in the playoffs, as the second-seeded team in the North were swept by the seventh-seeded Quezon City Capitals in the First Round.

The team was able to continue their winning prowess in the 2019–20 season, finishing 22–8 and claiming the North Division's third seed. In the playoffs, the team first swept Bulacan in the First Round and beat Manila in a close series in the Division Semifinals.

Makati made its first appearance in the Division Finals, and were challenged to face against the defending champion San Juan Knights. After losing to San Juan in game 1 as the visiting team, the team was set to host game 2 at home. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, game 2 would be moved to San Juan to be played Behind closed doors. Still, Makati persevered and forced a game 3 by a close margin. Later on, the league suspended play as the pandemic continuously affected the country, forcing the Division Finals to be halted after game 2.

2021–2022: Abrupt fallout

One year later, the league continued play under a bio-secure bubble at the Subic Bay Gymnasium. The pandemic brought a financial crisis to the Makati team, which led to a major scuffle as core players decided to not play for the team in the deciding game 3. By game 3, Makati only fielded a five-man roster, which caused San Juan to eliminate Makati by a wide 77-point margin.

The fallout of Makati continued on as the team failed to make the playoffs of the 2021 Invitational, and as the 2022 season came around, the team only captured two wins in the 21-game season, making them the worst team in the North Division and missing the playoffs for the first time.

2023: Returning to the winning column

Prior to the 2023 season, gaming company and MPBL title sponsor OKBet acquired the franchise of the team. The team was completely rebuilt as the team went back to where they were three years ago, once again claiming the third seed in the North with a record of 21–7, which includes wins against Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Batangas City.

In the First Round, the team will once again face against the San Juan Knights, the team that last eliminated them in 2021.

馬卡蒂摩天大樓隊是一支位於菲律賓馬卡蒂的職業籃球隊。該隊目前正在菲律賓籃球協會 (PBA) 比賽。該隊成立於 1988 年,是聯盟的創始球隊之一。球隊的主場是馬卡蒂的 Smart Araneta 體育館。

馬卡蒂摩天大樓隊是 PBA 歷史上最成功的球隊之一,贏得了 14 次總冠軍。該隊最近一次奪冠是在 2013 年 PBA 總決賽中以 4-2 擊敗了阿拉斯加人魚隊。

馬卡蒂摩天大樓隊陣容中擁有許多 PBA 最出色的球員,包括 June Mar Fajardo、Japeth Aguilar 和 Jayson Castro。該隊以其高水平的團隊配合和出色的進攻能力而聞名。

馬卡蒂摩天大樓隊是菲律賓籃球的標誌性球隊之一,也是 PBA 最受歡迎的球隊之一。該隊的主場比賽總是座無虛席,球隊的球迷被稱為“Skyscraper Nation”。