Kyt Jimenez

Krystoffe "Kyt" Mauricio Jimenez (born March 21, 1997) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). Born in Saudi Arabia, Jimenez played college basketball for FEU and Perpetual before suffering multiple injuries. Jimenez subsequently joined, and gained notoriety, with Mavs Phenomenal Basketball, a basketball development program with a large online following, particularly in YouTube, which paved way for a professional career.

Jimenez made his professional debut in 2022 with the Sarangani Marlins of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) before moving to the GenSan Warriors in 2023. During the PBA season 48 draft, Jimenez was drafted by San Miguel in the ninth round with the 76th overall pick. After signing a two-year deal with the team, he became the lowest draft pick to be signed by a PBA team. He won a championship with the team during his rookie season. However, he was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, the following season.

Jimenez is just one of two players to achieve a rare quadruple-double in a Philippine professional basketball game, the other being Donbel Belano.

College career

In college, Kyt Jimenez first played for the FEU Tamaraws before moving to the Perpetual Altas. During his Perpetual stint, however, Jimenez suffered multiple injuries.

Professional career

Sarangani Marlins and the quaruple-double (2022)

On April 25, 2022, he would make his professional debut during the opening gameday of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2022 season. Playing for the Sarangani Marlins, Jimenez scored 22 points on top of seven rebounds and four assists to give Sarangani the win over Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. Jimenez would go on to become an all-star starter during the 2022 MPBL All-Star Game.

On October 10, 2022, in a game against the Mindoro Tams, Jimenez recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 steals, achieving the elusive quadruple-double. It was the first and currently only time that occurred in the MPBL and only the second time in all of Philippine professional basketball.

Jimenez led Sarangani to the third seed in the South, but the run was cut short by an upset sweep from the Rizal Golden Coolers during the division quarterfinals of the 2022 MPBL playoffs. Jimenez would go on to win the inaugural MPBL Rookie of the Year award after averaging 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.

Davao Occidental Tigers (2022–2023)

Jimenez then made his way to the Pilipinas Super League, competing with the Davao Occidental Tigers.

GenSan Warriors (2023)

The following season, Jimenez returned to the MPBL, but now with the GenSan Warriors. He was selected for his second all-star appearance for the 2023 MPBL All-Star Game, also as a starter.

San Miguel Beermen (2023–2024)

On September 17, 2023, during the season 48 draft of the Philippine Basketball Association, Jimenez was selected with the 76th overall pick by the San Miguel Beermen. On September 27, he signed a two-year deal with San Miguel, making him the lowest drafted pick to sign a contract with a PBA team. In his first game against the Meralco Bolts, Jimenez suffered a fracture after getting hit, sidelining him indefinitely. He would still go on to win a championship following San Miguel's victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2023–24 Commissioner's Cup finals. Before the start of the 2024 Philippine Cup, Jimenez suffered a freak accident causing an arm laceration, which rendered him unable to compete in the Greats vs. Stalwarts game of the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend where he was set to be a team captain.

Zamboanga Valientes (2025)

On November 2024, Jimenez was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list ahead of the 2024–25 PBA Commissioner's Cup, but still had one year remaining in his contract. However, he ended up playing for the Zamboanga Valientes during the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship and Gov. Hofer Invitational Tournament. Because of this, Jimenez was granted a ban from the PBA for playing in other leagues without clearance, though he is given the opportunity to appeal the ban.

Return to Sarangani (2025–present)

Following his ban from the PBA, Jimenez will make a return to the Sarangani Marlins for the 2025 MPBL season.

Career statistics

PBA

''As of the end of 2023–24 season''

Season-by-season averages

, -
, align=left ,
, align=left , San Miguel
, 2 , , 8.1 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 1.0 , , , , 1.0 , , , , 2.0
, -class=sortbottom
, align="center" colspan=2 , Career
, 2 , , 8.1 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 1.0 , , , , 1.0 , , , , 2.0

MPBL

''As of the end of 2023 season''

Season-by-season averages

, -
, align=left , 2022
, align=left , Sarangani
, 20 , , 18 , , 29.0 , , .353 , , .294 , , .763 , , 7.9 , , 4.7 , , 2.8 , , 0.5 , , 17.2
, -
, align=left , 2023
, align=left , General Santos
, 23 , , 10 , , 16.0 , , .386 , , .301 , , .588 , , 4.8 , , 3.4 , , 1.4 , , 0.3 , , 6.7

References

External links

Krystoffe Jimenez Player Profile, San Miguel Beermen - RealGM

Krystoffe Jimenez via Genius Sports (MPBL)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jimenez, Kyt
1997 births
Living people
Filipino men's basketball players
Perpetual Altas basketball players
MPBL All-Stars
Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire players
Davao Occidental Tigers players
GenSan Warriors players
San Miguel Beermen draft picks
San Miguel Beermen players
Point guards
Shooting guards
People from Jeddah
21st-century Filipino sportsmen