The Batangas City Athletics and Zamboanga Sikat have consistently fought for contention in the South Division of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, finishing in the top six across all seasons in the league. From 2019 to 2022, both teams met in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, all of their match-ups going the full three games, culminating in a division finals series in 2022. The rivalry previously featured the Zamboanga Valientes, the predecessor to the current Zamboanga franchise, as they first met Batangas City during their first meeting in 2018.
As of August 4, 2026, Batangas City currently leads the all-time series, 12–8.
History
2018: First meeting The first meeting between the two teams first happened on November 27, 2018, at Batangas City Coliseum. The home team Batangas City Athletics won the game against Zamboanga (who were then under the Zamboanga Valientes banner) with a score of 104–93.
2019–2022: Playoff contention The two teams first met in the playoffs in 2019. Despite being the sixth seed and having a losing record in the regular season, the now-Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines won game 1 of the series. However, they weren't able to complete the upset, as Batangas City won the next two games at home to advance to the division finals. They then met again in 2020, this time in the division quarterfinals. Once again, both teams tied the series after two games, but this time around, it was Zamboanga who came away with the win. As of 2023, it marked the only time in which Batangas City was eliminated before the last two rounds of the playoffs.
In 2022, both Batangas City and Zamboanga took up the top two positions in the South Division, setting up a potential South Division finals series. Both teams were able to reach the penultimate round. Game 1 of the series was held at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum, making it the first game in which Zamboanga was the home team. Batangas City were able to win, 80–71. Zamboanga then tied the series in Batangas City's home grounds with a 63–53 victory of their own, forcing a game 3 in Zamboanga City. In game 3, Batangas City led by as much as 19 points, but Zamboanga were able to close the gap throughout the fourth quarter. Within the last minute, Jaycee Marcelino successfully made a shot that gave Zamboanga their first lead in the game with 40 seconds remaining. Zamboanga were able to hold on to clinch the South Division crown.
2023–2024: Cooldown period After their 2022 South Division finals series, they haven't met again in the playoffs for two years, only played in the regular season. In 2024, both teams tied in regular season record for the first time.
2025: Playoff contention For the first time in three years, Batangas City and Zamboanga met again in the playoffs, this time in the first round, with Batangas City finishing second with a 20–9 record while Zamboanga clinched seventh with a 17–12 record. Game 1 of the series was held at the Batangas City Coliseum with the home team drawing first blood of the series, 70–61. Zamboanga was able to tie the series in a neutral ground at the Ynares Center Montalban, 78–72. Game 3 was held at a new venue in Batangas City in Batangas Province Events Center. Zamboanga led as much as 14 points before Batangas City erased the deficit to win the series, 95–87.
Annual finishes NOTE: Preseason games are not included.
League Season Batangas City Athletics/Embassy Chill/Tanduay Rum Masters Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines/Master Sardines/Sikat Series W L Playoff finish W L Playoff finish MPBL 2018–19 15 10 Lost division finals 12 13 Lost division semifinals BTG 3–1 2019–20 19 11 Lost division quarterfinals 18 12 Lost division semifinals 2–2 FilBasket 11 0 Lost semifinals 5 6 Did not qualify BTG 1–0 MPBL 17 4 lost division finals 18 3 Lost national finals 2–2 2023 22 6 lost division finals 20 8 Lost division semifinals ZAM 1–0 2024 20 8 lost division finals 20 8 Lost division quarterfinals BTG 1–0 2025 20 9 lost division semifinals 17 12 lost division quarterfinals 2–2
Game summaries Legend Batangas City win Zamboanga win Bold indicates home team
League Type Date Winning team Score Losing team Location Recap MPBL Regular season November 27, 2018 Batangas City 104–93 Zamboanga Valientes Batangas City Coliseum Recap Playoffs March 27, 2019 Zamboanga 72–58 Batangas City Rizal Memorial Colleges Recap March 30, 2019 Batangas City 67–57 Zamboanga Batangas City Coliseum Recap April 2, 2019 Batangas City 80–72 Zamboanga Batangas City Coliseum Recap Regular season August 26, 2019 Batangas City 77–67 Zamboanga San Andres Sports Complex Recap Playoffs February 17, 2020 Zamboanga 78–74 Batangas City Davao City Recreation Center Recap February 21, 2020 Batangas City 84–75 Zamboanga Batangas City Coliseum Recap February 26, 2020 Zamboanga 69–52 Batangas City Batangas City Coliseum Recap FilBasket Regular season April 20, 2022 Batangas City 72–71 Zamboanga San Jose del Monte Sports Complex Recap MPBL Regular season August 1, 2022 Batangas City 87–83 Zamboanga Batangas City Coliseum Recap Playoffs November 19, 2022 Batangas City 80–71 Zamboanga Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum Recap November 22, 2022 Zamboanga 63–53 Batangas City Batangas City Coliseum Recap November 26, 2022 Zamboanga 67–66 Batangas City Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum Recap Regular season April 25, 2023 Zamboanga 81–74 Batangas City Cuneta Astrodome Recap August 10, 2024 Batangas City 93–80 Zamboanga Nueva Ecija Coliseum Recap June 6, 2025 Zamboanga 87–82 Batangas City Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center Recap Playoffs October 16, 2025 Batangas City 70–61 Zamboanga Batangas City Coliseum Recap October 23, 2025 Zamboanga 78–72 Batangas City Ynares Center II Recap October 30, 2025 Batangas City 95–87 Zamboanga Batangas Province Events Center Recap Regular season August 4, 2026 Batangas City 72–62 Zamboanga Ynares Center II Recap
References