The Iloilo United Royals are a Philippine professional basketball team based in Passi, Iloilo. 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 Passi City Arena.
The team joined the league in the 2019–20 season.
History JJ Javelosa, who would later own the team, and basketball coach Nash Racela conceived of an idea for an Iloilo team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) while playing golf. Racela brought in his co-coach Eric Gonzales to the nascent team. Javelosa, would have tapped his son Jay, who was then playing college basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, while Racela would have recruited from his varsity FEU Tamaraws team. MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao approved of the plan, but was almost shelved when a sponsor backed out. The elder Javelosa eventually found new sponsors, and named the team the Iloilo United Royals.
In the Royals' inaugural season, the team qualified to the playoffs in its debut season, finishing 18–12, claiming the sixth seed in the South. In the First Round, the team was eliminated by the Basilan Steel in the South Division First Round.
In the 2021 MPBL Invitational, the team was drawn into Group A alongside the other Visayas teams – Bacolod and Negros – and finished second, placing them into the playoff tournament. The team would go on to lose to the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the Quarterfinals. Iloilo then opted out of the 2022 MPBL season, with Javelosa stating that they took a leave of absence as they were uncertain that the MPBL will hold a tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
The Royals were announced to be one of the teams returning to the MPBL in time for the 2023 season. Manu Inigo replaced Eric Gonzales as coach, with Cocolife as the principal sponsor.
The Royals didn't take part in the 2025 season but returned in the 2026 season. However their franchise was revoked by the MPBL management mid-season after abandoning a June 17, 2026 game and remained non-committal for future fixtures.
Personnel
Head coaches Iloilo United Royals head coaches # Name Start End Achievements Ref. 1 2019 2021 — 2 2023 2023 — 3 2023 2024 — 4 2026 2026 — 5 2026 2026 —
Notable players
MPBL All-Star Day
All-Star selections Richard Escoto – 2020 CJ Catapusan – 2023 Josh Flores – 2023 Renzo Navarro – 2023
PBA players
Ex-PBA players Samboy de Leon Frank Golla (returned to PBA) Chito Jaime Eric Rodriguez Kyt Jimenez Vic Manuel James Sena Reil Cervantes
Drafted to PBA Rey Publico – 16th overall, 2019 Mark Nonoy – 10th overall, season 49 CJ Cansino – 11th overall, season 49
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 ResultsIloilo United Royals 2019–20 South 6th 18 12 8 Did not participate in 20222023 South 8th 12 16 11 Division quarterfinals lost vs. Bacoor City, 1–22024 South 9th 28 11 17 10 Did not qualify Did not participate in 20252026 South Banned Did not qualify All-time regular season record 41 45 2 playoff appearances All-time playoff record 1 4 0 Finals appearances All-time overall record 42 49 0 championships
References