The Sarangani Marlins (also known as Sarangani Marlins-10Act) is a Philippine professional basketball team based in Alabel, Sarangani. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. The team most recently played its home games at Sarangani Capitol Gymnasium.
The team's first incarnation was founded in 1998 as a charter team of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). The team was known as the SocSarGen Marlins, then became the SocSarGen-Taguig Marlins in 2001 Second Phase upon relocating to Taguig. The Marlins then returned for the MPBL in the 2019–20 season, going by the Soccsksargen Marlins as a nod to its original incarnation. Amidst a restructuring due to the team's game-fixing scandal in 2019, the team's name was changed to its current form.
The Marlins are one of five teams based in Mindanao and one of two based in the Soccsksargen region, the other being the GenSan Warriors.
History First incarnation (1998–2001) The SocSarGen Marlins were able to reach the quarterfinals in the MBA's inaugural season. The Marlins were bannered by veteran PBA campaigners Maximo Delantes and Teroy Albarillo. SocSarGen finished its regular season record with 11 wins as against 11 losses, good for fourth spot in the Southern Conference. The Marlins' cager Maximo Delantes figured prominently in the MVP race but couldn't make it to the MBA mythical five due to his team's poor performance in each of the playoffs.
Coach Biboy Ravanes was replaced by fellow ex-pro Willie Generalao at the Marlins' bench at the start of the 2000 MBA season. SocSarGen was fifth in the standings in the Southern Conference with four wins and eight losses.
In 2001, the team relocated to Taguig and became the SocSarGen-Taguig Marlins in the second phase conference. The Marlins finished last in both phases of the 2001 MBA season with a combined record of five wins and 23 losses.
Second incarnation (2019–present)
In the 2019, the Marlins returned to the basketball scene with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The team was also relocated back to Mindanao, this time in the Soccsksargen region, joining the GenSan Warriors, which joined the league in the previous season. Heading into the 2019–20 season, the team was named the Soccsksargen Marlins, a nod to its original name and having a full regional scope.
On November 4, 2019, the team was suspended due to game-fixing allegations. Management of the team had to be turned over and the team would later be renamed the Sarangani Marlins. The team, however, finished with only one win out of 30 games, the win came against Quezon City. With a .033 win percentage, the Marlins hold the worst record in league history.
In the 2021 MPBL Invitational, the team was drawn into Group C, but failed to make the playoff tournament, only getting one win against Muntinlupa. The team would make a push in the 2022 season, with players like Kit Jimenez, the team was able to finish with the third-best record in the South Division with a 16-5 record. Jimenez would also record the league's first quaruple-double late in the regular season. The Marlins would unfortunately lose in an upset against sixth-seeded Rizal in the First Round of the 2022 playoffs.
For the 2023 season, Jeff Viernes would join the team. Viernes then recorded the league's first 50-point game in a win against Nueva Ecija.
For the 2025 season, the team changed their name as the Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tires due to sponsorship reason.
For the 2026 season, the team reverted back the name as the Sarangani Marlins.
Current roster
Head coaches Sarangani Marlins head coaches # Name Start End Achievements Ref. 1998 1999 — 2 1999 2001 — 3 2000 2001 — 4 2001 2001 — 5 2019 2019 — 6 2019 2019 — 7 2019 2019–20 — 8 2021 2025 — 9 2025 2025 — 10 2026 2026 — 11 2026 current —
Notable players
Individual award winners
MPBL Rookie of the Year Kyt Jimenez – 2022
MPBL All-Star Day
All-Star selections Pari Llagas – 2020 Kyt Jimenez – 2022 Ryan Sual – 2024
PBA players
Ex-PBA players Paul Alvarez (returned to PBA) Gabby Espinas Norman Gonzales Marvin Hayes Jeff Viernes
Drafted to PBA Kyt Jimenez – 76th overall, season 48
Season-by-season records League champions Division champions Qualified for playoffs Best regular season record
Metropolitan Basketball Association Season GP Win Lost Pct. 1998 22 11 11 .500 1999 30 10 20 .333 2000 2001 – First Phase 2001 – Second Phase
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Records as of the 2026 MPBL season:
Season Regular season Playoffs Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage ResultsSarangani Marlins 2019–20 South 15th 30 1 29 25 Did not qualify 2022 South 3rd 21 16 5 2 2023 South 10th 28 11 17 12 Did not qualify 2024 South 12th 28 5 23 16Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire 2025 South 11th 29 10 19 15 Did not qualifySarangani Marlins 2026 South 11th 25 3 22 18 Did not qualify All-time regular season record 36 96 1 playoff appearance All-time playoff record 0 2 0 Finals appearances All-time overall record 36 98 0 championships
References
External links basketball.asia-basket.com