2019–20 Sarangani Marlins season
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox MPBL season
| MPBLyear = 2019–20
| team = Sarangani Marlins
| team2 = Sarangani Marlins
| ChampionshipWin =
| DivisionWin =
| misc =
| coach =
| wins = 1
| losses = 29
| division_place = 15
| division = South
| playoffs =
| owners =
| television =
| radio =
| prevseason = Inaugural season
| nextseason = 2022
}}
The 2019–20 Sarangani Marlins season was the inaugural season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Starting out as the Soccsksargen Marlins, the team finished the season with just one win in the 30-game season. It is the first one-win season since the league's national expansion and just the second ever. By winning percentage, it is also the worst season by any team in a single season. The team has also been the subject of a game-fixing scandal after going 0–18.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Ma. Angelica |date=2019-11-04 |title=MPBL's SOCCSKSARGEN Marlins suspended over alleged game-fixing |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/basketball/714180/mpbl-rsquo-s-soccsksargen-marlins-suspended-over-alleged-game-fixing/story/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}
From July 12 to November 20, 2019, the Marlins lost 21 straight games, which was the longest losing streak in league history at the time, both single-season and overall. These both stood until 2024, when the Bicolandia Oragons lost 23 straight games across two seasons. In addition, the 2024 Bacolod City of Smiles would lose 22 straight games in a single season.
The team's only home game this season was held at the Sarangani Capitol Gymnasium in Alabel, which is also where they claimed their lone victory as well.
Regular season
= Standings =
{{2019–20 MPBL South Division standings|showteam=SAR|show_limit=5}}
= Schedule =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=7 style="{{MPBL color cell|Sarangani Marlins}};" | 2019–20 Sarangani Marlins season schedule | ||||
| style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Game
! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Date ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Opponent ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Score ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Location ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Record ! style="{{MPBL color cell2|Sarangani Marlins}};" | Recap | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:#fcc"
! 1 | July 12 | Muntinlupa | L 55–58 | Caloocan Sports Complex | 0–1
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 2 | July 18 | San Juan | L 77–100 | Batangas City Coliseum | 0–2
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 3 | July 20 | Imus | L 70–82 | Cuneta Astrodome | 0–3
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 4 | July 24 | Bacoor City | L 60–65 | Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium | 0–4
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 5 | July 29 | Davao Occidental | L 75–104 | Navotas Sports Complex | 0–5
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 6 | August 2 | Pasig | L 77–89 | Pasig Sports Center | 0–6
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 7 | August 7 | Zamboanga | L 75–100 | Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium | 0–7
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 8 | August 15 | Caloocan | L 77–93 | Caloocan Sports Complex | 0–8
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 9 | August 23 | Mindoro | L 87–91 | Muntinlupa Sports Complex | 0–9
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 10 | August 27 | Makati | L 70–106 | Strike Gymnasium | 0–10
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 11 | August 29 | Pasay | L 54–70 | Cuneta Astrodome | 0–11
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 12 | September 5 | Navotas | L 82–88 | Angeles University Foundation | 0–12
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 13 | September 12 | Batangas City | L 54–76 | Batangas City Coliseum | 0–13
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 14 | September 21 | Bacolod | L 80–89 | La Salle Coliseum | 0–14
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 15 | October 4 | Cebu | L 57–89 | Strike Gymnasium | 0–15
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 16 | October 10 | Nueva Ecija | L 50–89 | Strike Gymnasium | 0–16
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 17 | October 16 | Bataan | L 71–102 | Batangas City Coliseum | 0–17
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 18 | October 23 | Manila | L 89–104 | Strike Gymnasium | 0–18
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 19 | November 5 | Pampanga | L 71–115 | Alonte Sports Arena | 0–19
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 20 | November 8 | Parañaque | L 70–73 | Olivarez College | 0–20
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 21 | November 20 | Rizal | L 73–77 | Bataan People's Center | 0–21
| |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 22 | November 27 | Quezon City | W 78–74 | Sarangani Capitol Gymnasium | 1–21
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 23 | December 14 | Basilan | L 80–85 | Santa Rosa Sports Complex | 1–22
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 24 | December 20 | Valenzuela | L 84–89 | San Andres Sports Complex | 1–23
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 25 | January 7 | Bulacan | L 69–76 | Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium | 1–24
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 26 | January 10 | Biñan City | L 74–92 | Alonte Sports Arena | 1–25
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 27 | January 21 | Bicol | L 72–86 | Alonte Sports Arena | 1–26
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 28 | January 30 | Iloilo | L 86–96 | Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium | 1–27
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 29 | February 7 | Marikina | L 95–99 | Marikina Sports Center | 1–28
| |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 30 | February 10 | General Santos | L 87–104 | San Andres Sports Complex | 1–29
| |
| colspan=7 align=center | Source: [https://mpbl.web.geniussports.com/competitions/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F24638%2Fteam%2F115254%2Fschedule Schedule] |
Game-fixing scandal
On November 4, 2019, the league suspended the Marlins team over game-fixing allegations. League founder and then-Senator Manny Pacquiao ensured that the persons involved in the scandal would face appropriate charges and reminded other teams that the league has zero tolerance towards "any form of cheating and other unsportsmanlike behavior."
A week later, league commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, who was assisted by the National Bureau of Investigation, then filed criminal complaints to 21 persons involved in the scandal, which included three Chinese nationals and ten Marlins players before the Department of Justice.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=2019-11-12 |title=Game-fixing raps filed against Soccsksargen owner, players, Chinese 'mastermind' |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/mpbl-files-charges-of-game-fixing-against-top-officials-players-of-soccsksargen-a793-20191112 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} On April 16, 2021, the DOJ would indict 17 persons with criminal charges.{{Cite web |last=Damicog |first=Jeffrey |title=DOJ to indict 17 persons in 2019 MPBL 'game-fixing' |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/16/doj-to-indict-17-persons-in-2019-mpbl-game-fixing/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}