2019–20 Makati Super Crunch season explained

The 2019–20 Makati Super Crunch season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

The Super Crunch looked to continue their North Division contention after a disappointing upset loss to the Quezon City Capitals in the previous season's playoffs. Makati started the season 9–1 and went on an eight-game winning streak from September 23 to November 18. Despite losing four of their last six games, the Super Crunch still managed to finish third place in the North Division with a 22–8 record.

In the playoffs, Makati got past Bulacan and second-seeded Manila before clashing against the San Juan Knights in the North Division Finals. Although Makati was able to tie the series right before the season's suspension, the pandemic would ultimately affect the team's chances at advancing to the Finals. Financial troubles caused the team to only field a five-man roster in the deciding game 3, and in the game itself, the team lost to San Juan by 77 points, ending their season in an abrupt fallout.

As of 2023, this is the only season in which the team played their home games within Makati proper, playing at the Makati Coliseum for two games.

Regular season

Schedule

2019–20 Makati Super Crunch season schedule
Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Record	Recap <	-- June – August games -->
1	June 18		W 73–51		1–0
2	June 28		W 84–74		2–0
3	July 5		W 91–71		3–0
4	July 12		W 76–69		4–0
5	July 16		L 85–91		4–1
6	July 30		W 73–67	Muntinlupa Sports Complex	5–1
7	August 8		W 83–75	Caloocan Sports Complex	6–1
8	August 15		W 86–80	Caloocan Sports Complex	7–1
9	August 21		W 96–94	JCSGO Christian Academy	8–1
10	August 27		W 106–70	Strike Gymnasium	9–1
11	September 2		L 74–76	Filoil Flying V Centre	9–2
12	September 10		W 85–70		10–2
13	September 14		L 56–64	Bataan People's Center	10–3
14	September 23		W 92–87	Filoil Flying V Centre	11–3
15	October 2		W 78–61	Valenzuela Astrodome	12–3
16	October 8		W 101–87	Valenzuela Astrodome	13–3
17	October 16		W 97–65	Batangas City Coliseum	14–3
18	October 24		W 78–71		15–3
19	November 5		W 69–64		16–3
20	November 13		W 111–106	Ynares Center	17–3
21	November 18		W 81–68	Makati Coliseum	18–3
22	November 25		L 86–88	Makati Coliseum	18–4
23	November 28		W 94–89	Lagao Gymnasium	19–4
24	December 13		W 67–62	Caloocan Sports Complex	20–4
25	December 21		L 63–86		20–5
26	January 14		L 79–101	San Andres Sports Complex	20–6
27	January 22		W 119–77	San Andres Sports Complex	21–6
28	January 28		L 61–79	Cuneta Astrodome	21–7
29	February 1		L 74–80		21–8
30	February 6		W 91–90	Alonte Sports Arena	22–8
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

Schedule

2020 Makati Super Crunch playoffs schedule
Round	Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Series	Recap <	-- Division Quarterfinals -->
Division Quarterfinals	1	February 18		W 94–88		1–0
	2	February 22	Bulacan	W 86–78	Malolos Sports and Convention Center	2–0
Division Semifinals	1	February 28		L 74–77		0–1
	2	March 4	Manila	W 75–59	San Andres Sports Complex	1–1
	3	March 6	Manila	W 78–75	San Andres Sports Complex	2–1
Division Finals	1	March 9		L 60–76	Filoil Flying V Centre	0–1
	2	March 11	San Juan	W 91–88	Filoil Flying V Centre	1–1
	3	March 10	San Juan	L 54–131	Subic Bay Gymnasium	1–2
Source: Schedule

Notes

Fallout

The COVID-19 pandemic would heavily affect Makati's chances at a championship. When game 3 of the series pushed through, the Super Crunch were only able to field a five-man roster against San Juan. This was due to financial troubles during the pandemic affecting the team, and that, allegedly, team management wouldn't be able to pay the contracts of the team's key players. Those players were given the choice of whether or not they would participate in the deciding game 3, but none of them responded. The Makati Super Crunch would go on to lose to the San Juan Knights by a score of 54–131.^[1]

Notes and References

1. News: Li . Matthew . Makati Super Crunch owner says pandemic forced him to cut contracts . March 11, 2021 . Tiebreaker Times . March 10, 2021.