Meycauayan Marilao Gems

Meycauayan Marilao Gems
2026 Meycauayan Marilao Gems season
LeagueMPBL (2018–present)
Founded2018 (2018)
HistoryMuntinlupa Cagers
2018–2025
Meycauayan Marilao Gems
2026–present
ArenaMeycauayan Sports Complex
San Jose Del Monte Sports Complex
LocationMeycauayan, Bulacan
Marilao, Bulacan
Team colors   
Head coachJonathan Banal
Championships0

The Meycauayan Marilao Gems are a Philippine professional basketball team based in the southern portion of Bulacan, representing both Meycauayan and Marilao. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the North Division. The team plays their home games at San Jose del Monte Sports Complex.

The team was originally known as the Muntinlupa Cagers as one of the league's founding teams, first established for the 2018 season, where they also made their only finals appearance to date. The team also took part in FilBasket.

In 2026, new ownership acquired the franchise and brought the team to southern Bulacan ahead of the 2026 season, therefore making them the first team in the league to relocate. The Gems became the second team to represent Bulacan, after the Bulacan Kuyas.

History

Muntinlupa Cagers

The Muntinlupa Cagers were founded in 2018 as one of the MPBL's ten charter teams for the 2018 season. The Cagers experienced immediate success, finishing with a 6–3 record. Muntinlupa claimed the third seed and first swept Navotas in the Quarterfinals. They then had the Parañaque Patriots, who were coming off an upset against second-seeded Bulacan. Parañaque won the first game of the series, but Muntinlupa, who were led by the likes Chito Jaime, Felix Apreku, and Allan Mangahas, took the next two games to advance to the 2018 MPBL finals against the Batangas City Athletics.[1] Muntinlupa went on to lose the series in four games, making Batangas City the league's inaugural champions.

Muntinlupa continued winning in the 2018–19 season, keeping the same core players and once again claiming third seed in the South Division with a 15–10 record. Their playoff run was cut short, however, as the Cagers lost to sixth-seeded Zamboanga in the first round.

Heading into the 2019–20 season, most of its core players left the team, with Jaime moving to Bataan, Apreku moving to Pampanga, and Mangahas moving to Biñan City. The Cagers, now led by GJ Ylagan, win only seven games in the 30-game season, which ranked the team 13th in the South. In 2022 Muntinlupa finished with a 6–15 record, and barely made the playoff picture, by ranking 8th in the South. The team then lost to Zamboanga once again in the first round.

Muntinlupa then rebuilt its roster for the 2023 season. With the acquisitions of collegiate players John Amores and JL Delos Santos, as well as former Davao Occidental member Marco Balagtas, the Cagers rose to a 16–12 record, ranking sixth in the South. Muntinlupa faces the third-seeded GenSan Warriors in the first round.

Meycauayan Marilao Gems

In 2026, after new ownership acquired the Muntinlupa franchise, the team relocated to southern Bulacan. The team was originally going to be named the Marilao Gems, before adding Meycauayan to its location identifier. The Gems would become the second team hailing from the province of Bulacan.[2]

Home arenas

From 2018 to 2023, the Muntinlupa Cagers have always played their home games in Muntinlupa Sports Center. Starting in 2026, the team will play their home games in San Jose del Monte Sports Complex.[2]

Venue Location 2018 2018–19 2019–20 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Muntinlupa Sports Center Muntinlupa Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Red X Red X N/a
San Jose del Monte Sports Complex San Jose del Monte, Bulacan N/a Green tick

Current roster

Meycauayan Marilao Gems roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 0 MJ Dela Virgen 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 1997–03–31 José Rizal
G 3 Patrick Ramos 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1999–04–05 José Rizal
G 4 Agem Miranda 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1999–09–04 José Rizal
F 5 Joshua Guiab 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) José Rizal
F 7 Jeric Serrano (HG) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1996–11–26 Lyceum
G 8 Robi Nayve 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 1999–09–23 St. Benilde
G 9 Shawn Argente 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 2001–10–31 José Rizal
F 10 Nat Cosejo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Emilio Aguinaldo
G 11 Al Gemotra (HG) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) NCBA
F 12 Vince Tolentino 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1993–08–27 Ateneo
G 13 Renz De Vera (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) NCBA
F 14 Jayson Apolonio 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1995–06–15 DMMMSU
F/C 15 Felix Apreku 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1991–12–06 Letran
F 16 CJ Catapusan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1997–01–29 Philippines
G 17 Arvin Emeterio (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) STI
F 19 Ivan Santos (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 1997–08–14 TIP
G 20 Russell Ogana (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) STI
G 24 Jimboy Pasturan 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 1997–10–24 St. Benilde
C 25 Miles Cañal 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
G 28 Bing Cervantes (HG) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) STI
G 32 Brix Ramos 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UP Diliman
F 44 Dean Degamo (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) NCBA
Head coach
  • Jonathan Banal
Assistant coach(es)
  • Dexter Rosales
  • Nate Santos
  • Isaiah Banal
  • Brian Monday
  • Kian Caratay
  • Francis Amores
Team manager
  • Kaizer Galvez
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured
Updated as of: June 22, 2026

Head coaches

Muntinlupa Cagers / Meycauayan Marilao Gems head coaches
# Name Start End Achievements Ref.
1Aldrin Morante 20182018–19 —
2Aldin Ayo 2018–192018–19 —
3Jack Azcueta 2018–192018–19 —
4Richie Melencio 20192019 —
5Dave Moralde 20192019–20 —
6Bonnie Garcia 2019–202019–20 —
7Louie Gonzalez 20212021 —
8Jules Hidalgo 20222022 —
9Vincent Salvador 20222022 —
10Jack Azcueta 20232023 —
11Aldrin Morante 20232023 —
12Mixson Ramos 20242024 —
13Giovanni Ludovice 20252025 —
14Jonathan Banal 2026current —

Notable players

Individual award winners

MPBL All-Star Day

PBA players

Other notable players

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Muntinlupa Cagers
2018
Rajah Cup		—[a]3rd963.6672Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		won vs. Navotas, 2–0
won vs. Parañaque, 2–1
lost vs. Batangas City, 1–3
2018–19
Datu Cup		South3rd251510.6005Division quarterfinalslost vs. Zamboanga, 1–2
2019–20
Lakan Season		South13th30723.23319Did not qualify
2022South8th21615.28612Division quarterfinalslost vs. Zamboanga, 0–2
2023South6th281612.5717Division quarterfinalslost vs. General Santos, 1–2
2024South11th28721.25014Did not qualify
2025South12th291019.34515
Meycauayan Marilao Gems
2026TBATo be determinedTo be determined
All-time regular season record17067103.3944 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record17710.4121 finals appearance
All-time overall record18774113.3960 championships

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2018 season had no division alignment.

References

  1. ↑ "Muntinlupa pulls away late to finish off Paranaque and seal MPBL finals duel vs Batangas". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  2. 1 2 Saldajeno, Ivan (2026-04-04). "Quadruple-header split into 2 to open MPBL Season 8". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
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