UNITED WE STAND: Why the Iloilo United Royals’ success is important to Iloilo

The Iloilo United Royals ended their debut season in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, falling to Basilan Steel after Richard Escoto exited the third quarter on an ugly ankle injury. They closed the Lakan season as the best expansion team in the league. This feat is not an easy one. The team that eliminated us, after all, ended last season as the second-worst team in the league. The work that Team President JJ Javelosa and the United Royals organization have done to get this team to the level of success it has achieved cannot be overstated.

I have worked closely with the team, and have witnessed the fandom rising throughout Iloilo. As a basketball fan, I (and I imagine a good many other Ilonggos) have waited a long time for a team they could support and call their own. The United Royals have given us just that. The team’s story throughout the season has been interesting, to say the least. Here are the highlights, among many others:

• Richard Escoto hits a buzzer-beating three to win their first game of the season
• The team holds its first home game in Iloilo after the province and city had a basketball team drought of 19 years since the Iloilo Megavolts
• Aaron Jeruta delivers Iloilo’s first home win on a clutch layup in a packed USA gym
• The team brings the MPBL to Passi City

Since the team’s establishment, Iloilo itself has started to experience the beginnings of a basketball renaissance of sorts with the JB ABL now on the come up, an Iloilo City Sports Academy opening soon, and gyms now under construction in municipalities like Barotac Nuevo and Maasin. In fact, it is a surprise that Iloilo City does not have its own arena. The effect of sports cannot be overstated. It is a vehicle for self-expression, education, unity, and development within an area. In fact, it is one of the best indicators that an area is economically viable enough to sustain one.

This is why the success of the Iloilo United Royals is an inextricable representation of the success of Iloilo itself. The team, much like how players feed off fan energy on their home floor, thrives on the support system provided by the area it represents. In fact, the team itself lives off of sponsorships because its main drive is to represent, to give us a team we can identify with. The support LGUs and private corporations provide sports teams is directly proportional to not only its success as an enterprise, but on the court as well. This is easily seen in the top teams. Holding home games is easy (the hosting team has to cover the expenses of the visiting team and the MPBL staff). Hiring staff from coaches to PT becomes more doable. Holding events with fans isn’t so taxing anymore. This is because the team itself is not reliant solely on its own resources, but can look to the province and city on the front of its jersey.

The team gives us something to aspire to. It gives Ilonggos a dream to hold on to as they grow up playing basketball. It puts everyone on notice that Iloilo really is levelling up, and that this team is for real.

If we are to really call this team ours, we have to do whatever we can in trying to ensure its success. As our team, we share and rejoice in its triumph much like we roared in celebration as Jeruta kissed his lay-up off the glass to win against Zamboanga. We also share in its defeat. Personally, as I watched Richard Escoto in pain on the floor, I felt the wind punched out of my lungs. The friends I was watching with had shocked looks on their faces with their hands together as if praying he could get up.

This is the effect of the United Royals.

Their wins are our wins.

Their losses are our losses. And while we lost the last game that ended our debut season, the fact that we made it this far is a win for Iloilo.