The team's establishment is unique from other MPBL teams, in that it was formed via a split from the Zamboanga Valientes. Due to undisclosed management issues, the split took into effect as the year 2019 began, forming the current Zamboanga franchise.[2] They have also played in Filbasket and in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.
Initially named the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (sometimes shorterned to ZFAMS), the team is sponsored by Universal Canning Inc.[3]
History
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
2018–2020: The Arboleda era
Led by Harold Arboleda and Reed Juntilla, the Zamboanga franchise would finish the 2018–19 season as the sixth seed in the South Division. The team would upset the third-seeded Muntinlupa Cagers in three games in the division quarterfinals. Despite winning game 1 of the division semifinals, Zamboanga would lose to the defending champion Batangas City Athletics in the next two games. In the succeeding 2019–20 season, with the addition of Alvin Pasaol, Zamboanga improved from their 12–13 record to move up 18–12. In the playoffs, as the fifth seed, Zamboanga would get their revenge on Batangas City by beating them in three games in the division quarterfinals. In the division semifinals, however, they would lose to the eventual champion Davao Occidental Tigers.
Zamboanga initially announced that it would not participate in the succeeding season and would decide on their status in the MPBL by 2022.[4]
2022–present: The Twin Turbo era and first division championship
The team opted out of the 2021 Invitational, but did eventually compete in the 2022 season, changing the team's prior decision. That season saw the arrival of the Marcelino twins, Jaycee Marcelino and Jayvee.[5] The "Twin Turbo" would help lead Zamboanga to their best regular season record to date, as the top seed in the South with an 18–3 record. Zamboanga then booked its first MPBL finals appearance after beating the Batangas City Embassy Chill in the South Division finals.[6] In the 2022 MPBL finals, Zamboanga lost to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in four games.[7] They would lose to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in four games in the national finals series.
Zamboanga then took part in the 2023 Preseason Invitational, which they would end up winning after their finals victory against Nueva Ecija. They would then record their winningest season to date, 20–8, although they would fall down to the fourth seed. After beating the expansion Quezon Huskers in three games, they division title defense came to an end after getting swept by the Bacoor City Strikers.
In 2024, the team changed their team name to Zamboanga Master Sardines.
Former logo of the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.
Name
The name has a double meaning, not only referring to the products of Universal Canning Inc., which owns both the Family's Brand Sardines and Master Sardines brands, but also as a reference to Zamboanga City being referred to as the "Sardines Capital of the Philippines".
Logo
When the franchise split from the Valientes, the logo carried over to the new ZFAMS team, which shared elements with the Valientes' logo.
In 2024, alongside the announcement of the name change to Master Sardines, a logo-making contest was also announced to create the new identity. The new logo was later shown on February 22, 2024. Created by Ritche Faustorilla Ocampo, it features a sardine holding a basketball with a gold outline.[12]
Rivalries
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters
Zamboanga and Batangas City have faced each other in the playoffs in three consecutive occasions from 2019 to 2022, all of which went the full three games. Zamboanga won the series in both 2020 and in 2022. As of 2023, the two teams have met a total of thirteen times in the MPBL.
