Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines.
| Most recent season or competition: 2022–23 MPBL season | |
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 29, 2017 |
| Founder | Manny Pacquiao |
| Inaugural season | 2018 |
| COO | Zaldy Realubit |
| Commissioner | Kenneth Duremdes |
| Motto | Ang Liga Ng Bawat Pilipino (transl. The League of Every Filipino) |
| No. of teams | TBA |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Headquarters | Pasig, Philippines |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Basilan Jumbo Plastic (1st title) |
| Most titles | 4 teams (1 title each) |
History
Manny Pacquiao launched the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on August 29, 2017, starting off as a semi-professional league.[1][2] According to Pacquiao, the league is not intended to be a competitor to the Philippine Basketball Association, the country's top professional basketball league. The MPBL was intended to feature both a regional commercial and barangay-level league with teams on the commercial side to have a home locality in addition to a corporate sponsor.[3]
In the first months, the league hosted teams from Luzon with future plans to expand to accommodate teams based in Visayas and Mindanao like the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. It is planned that an expanded MPBL will have two conferences, North and South, where the best teams from both divisions will face in the finals similar to the format of the National Basketball Association of the United States.[3]
The league was planned to start as early as September 23, 2017 with at least six teams.[4] A pre-season was held with the Bulacan Kuyas finishing as champions.[5]
The inaugural cup of the MPBL, the Anta Rajah Cup commenced on January 25, 2018, and was participated in by ten teams.[6] In the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Parañaque Patriots secured a 70–60 victory over the Caloocan Supremos.[7] The first tournament ran until April 19, 2018, where the Batangas City Athletics crowned as the league's first-ever champion.
After its inaugural cup, the 2018 Anta Rajah Cup, the MPBL had expanded its roster of teams to 26. All teams are expected to play in the next cup. After the ten expansion teams were admitted into the league, it closed its doors for new applicants from Luzon. This was done to leave room for future Visayas and Mindanao teams. A meeting in Cebu was held on April 28 for potential Visayas and Mindanao teams.[8] Davao Occidental Tigers became the first MPBL team from the Visayas-Mindanao region.
In December 2019, Chooks-to-Go of Bounty Agro Ventures became the title sponsor of the league under a five-year deal.[9] The 2019–20 season was postponed on March 12, 2020, after the second game of the Division Finals, but resumed play for the game threes of the Division Finals on March 10, 2021, almost exactly a year after, when it announced the resumption through a bubble in Subic.[10] With this, the 2020–21 season was also cancelled altogether due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] In October 2021, Chooks-to-Go took over the operations of the league.[9]
On November 9, 2021, it was announced that the MPBL will turn into a professional league. They have also lift the restrictions for Fil-foreign and ex-professional players.[12] On December 9, 2021, the MPBL was granted professional status by the Games and Amusements Board.[13]
Teams
The MPBL originated with 10 charter teams on its inaugural season. After its first successful season, it attracted a lot of teams across the Philippines to join.
Inaugural map:
.svg.png.webp)   Muscovados Bingo Plus Royals Locations of MPBL teams (NCR & Cavite are pinned by blue pogs) |
 Greater Metro Manila (NCR) and Cavite MPBL Teams |
| Team | Locality | Main sponsor | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Division | ||||||||
| 1Bataan Risers - Camaya Coast | Balanga, Bataan | Camaya Coast | People's Center Capitol | 4,000 | 2018 | Jonas Villanueva | ||
| Bulacan Kuyas | Malolos, Bulacan Baliuag, Bulacan |
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium Baliuag Star Arena Malolos Sports and Convention Center |
5,000 5,000 5,000 |
2017 | Ralph Emerson Rivera | |||
| Caloocan Excellence | Caloocan, Metro Manila |
Victory Liner, Inc. | Caloocan Sports Complex | 3,000 | 2017 | Rene Baena | ||
| Manila Stars[14] | Manila, Metro Manila |
San Andres Sports Complex Ninoy Aquino Stadium |
3,000 6,000 |
2018 | ||||
| Marikina Shoe City[15] | Marikina, Metro Manila |
Marist School Gym Marikina Sports Center |
2,500 7,000 |
2018 | Loreto Tolentino | |||
| Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines | Navotas, Metro Manila |
Slord Development Corporation | Navotas Sports Complex | 1,000 | 2018 | Gabby Severino | ||
| Pampanga Giant Lanterns[16] | Angeles City San Fernando, Pampanga |
ADG Group of Companies | Angeles University Foundation Gymnasium Don Honorio Ventura State University Gymnasium |
2,000 3,000 |
2018 | Bong Ramos | ||
| Parañaque Patriots | Parañaque, Metro Manila |
yabo Sports | Olivarez College Coliseum | 3,500 | 2017 | Michael Saguiguit | ||
| Pasay Voyagers[17] | Pasay, Metro Manila |
Cuneta Astrodome | 12,000 | 2018 | Marlon Martin | |||
| Emkai-Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers[14][18] | Antipolo, Rizal | Emkai Wholesale Trading PTC Foodsphere Asia Corp. AMRC Holdings Company, Inc. |
Ynares Center | 7,400 | 2018 | John Rodney Santos | ||
| San Juan Knights[19] | San Juan, Metro Manila |
Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation Almeria International Construction Corporation |
Filoil Flying V Centre | 5,500 | 19991 | 2018 | Randy Alcantara | |
| Valenzuela MJAS Zenith | Valenzuela, Metro Manila |
MJAS Zenith Trading | Bahayang Pag-asa Sports Complex | 3,000 | 2018 | Ronjay Enrile | ||
| Southern Division | ||||||||
| Bacoor City Strikers[20] | Bacoor, Cavite | Strike Gymnasium | 1,500 | 2018 | Aldrin Morante | |||
| Bacolod Bingo Plus | Bacolod, Negros Occidental | |||||||
| Batangas City Embassy Chill | Batangas City, Batangas Lipa, Batangas |
Tanduay Embassy | Batangas City Coliseum | 4,000 2,500 1,000 |
2018 | Cholo Villanueva | ||
| Bicol Volcanoes | Bicol Region Legazpi, Albay Naga, Camarines Sur |
Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. | Albay Astrodome Ibalong Centrum for Recreation Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum |
5,000 8,000 ~12,000 |
2019 | Aldin Ayo | ||
| GenSan Warriors[21] | General Santos, South Cotabato |
Lagao Gymnasium | 6,000 | 20052 | 2018 | Ronnie Dojillo | ||
| Iloilo United Royals | Iloilo City, Iloilo | University of San Agustin Gymnasium | 5,000 | 2019 | Eric Gonzales | |||
| Imus Bandera | Imus, Cavite | Buracai De Laiya Beach Resort GLC Truck & Equipment |
Imus Sports Complex AATF Sports Complex |
1,000 2,000 |
2018 | Manuel Torralba, Jr. | ||
| Laguna Heroes Krah Asia[22] | Biñan, Laguna | Krah Pipes Manila Inc. | Alonte Sports Arena | 6,500 | 2018 | Victor Escudero | ||
| Mindoro Tamaraws - EOG Sports Burlington | Calapan, Oriental Mindoro |
EOG Sports Management Burlington Industries Philippines, Inc. |
N/A | 2019 | Britt Reroma | |||
| Negros Muscovados | Negros Occidental | Pacquiao 3 in 1 Coffee | TBA | 2021 | Rolando Aledron, Jr. | |||
| Sarangani Marlins | Alabel, Sarangani |
Sarangani Capitol Gymnasium | N/A | 19981 | 2019 | John Kallos | ||
- Notes
- ^ The Pasig Pirates (as Pasig-Rizal Pirates), San Juan Knights and Sarangani Marlins were founded during the active years of Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
- ^ The General Santos Warriors was founded in 2005 as GenSan MP PacMan Warriors and participated in Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA), National Basketball Conference (NBC) and Liga Pilipinas in 2008.
- ^ The Sta. Lucia Realtors was founded in 1987 from the Philippine Basketball League (PBL)
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 1993 and the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League (PCBL) in 2015.
Former teams
| Team | Locality | Main sponsor | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilan Jumbo Plastic | Lamitan, Basilan | Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Medical Depot |
Lamitan Capitol Gym | 3,000 | 2018 | Jerson Cabiltes | |
| Cebu - Casino Rubbing Alcohol | Cebu City, Cebu Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu |
International Pharmaceuticals Inc. | USJ-R Basak Coliseum Hoops Dome Aznar Coliseum |
4,000 6,500 3,000 |
2018 | Roberto Manalili Noynoy Falcasantos | |
| Davao Occidental Tigers - Cocolife[23] |
Davao Occidental Davao City, Davao del Sur |
United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation | University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium & Cultural Center Rizal Memorial Colleges Petro Gazz Arena Davao City Recreation Center |
6,000 2,000 2,500 |
2018 | Don Dulay | |
| Muntinlupa Cagers | Muntinlupa, Metro Manila |
Angelis Resort | Muntinlupa Sports Center | 3,000 | 2018 | Jay Angelo Feranil | |
All-time venues
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League championships
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Davao Occidental | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Batangas City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2018 | — |
| Basilan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2021 | — |
| Muntinlupa | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2018 |
| Nueva Ecija | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2021 |
Media coverage
Similar to the defunct Philippine Basketball League and the former Shakey's V-League prior to 2016, MPBL employs its own in-house broadcast team.
ABS-CBN Sports and ABS-CBN Regional Network Group were the inaugural official broadcasters of the league. It last aired games through A2Z; previously, it aired games of the MPBL through S+A Channel 23 and S+A HD Channel 166 with Liga providing cable television coverage on Channels 86 and 166 on SkyCable and select provincial providers. Selected national finals games aired on ABS-CBN. The broadcasting deal was announced on January 11, 2018.[24] The games aired internationally via The Filipino Channel. Additionally, scheduled Monday games were aired on Fox Sports Asia until the 2019 championship.
The games were also available via livestreaming through the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Facebook page, ABS-CBN Sports Website and iWant TFC.
However, their contract with the network's sports division were initially left in jeopardy due to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy, which led to the sports division's dissolution on August 31. Nevertheless, with the resumption of the stalled playoffs in March 2021, ABS-CBN remained the broadcast partner of the league, through A2Z.
In December 2021, starting with the Invitationals, the league's media coverage transferred to the IBC and TAP Sports. The livestreaming of games were also carried over to the Chooks-to-Go Facebook page and on TAP Go. IBC did not extend their contract with the MPBL in 2021.
MPBL will also premiere on April 25, 2022 exclusively aired on CIGNAL TV & sister channel ONE PH, it was supposed to be aired on ONE Sports but it was halted due to no spaces available and replaced by another sister ONE PH, ONE PH has finally added as a new space available aside from tagalog news & entertainment Channel, ONE PH also the 1st cable channel to air as a non sports channel and also the 1st channel to air as a sports coverage. MPBL is now partnered for the first time with TV5 Network, Inc.
Rules
Game regulations
- FIBA Rules
Player classifications
- Local player – Born to full-blooded Filipinos.[25]
- Filipino-foreigners – Filipinos born to at least a parent with foreign heritage regardless where they are born or raised or if they are a holder of a Philippine passport. Only those with a height of less than 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) are eligible to play in the MPBL.[25]
- Ex-pros – Players with prior participation in professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association and the ASEAN Basketball League.[26]
- Homegrown player – Players who are native to their team's home locality.[27]
At least for the 2021 MPBL Invitationals,[28] the Filipino-foreigners height limit for Filipino-foreigners would be lifted.[12]
Commissioners
| No. | Commissioner | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||
| 1 | Snow Badua | August 29, 2017 | November 22, 2017 |
| 2 | Kenneth Duremdes | November 22, 2017 | incumbent |
See also
- National Basketball League (Philippines)
- Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, a 3x3 basketball league consisting of teams from the MPBL.
References
- Del Rosario, Paolo (August 29, 2017). "Senator Manny Pacquiao launches new basketball league". CNN Philippines (in English and Filipino). Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- "From humble origins in GenSan, Manny Pacquiao's MPBL is now a nation-wide league". ABS-CBN Sports. June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
nd as the semi-professional league continues to grow, it’s amazing to think that it all started with a ‘pa-liga’ in General Santos City.
- Henson, Joaquin (September 3, 2017). "MPBL won't compete with PBA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Lintag, Paul (August 29, 2017). "Home-and-away games make grand return through Maharlika Pilipinas". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- "ABS-CBN S+A is the official broadcaster of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League". January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- Leongson, Randolph (January 22, 2018). "Maharlika basketball league tips off Thursday with 10 teams at Big Dome". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Leongson, Randolph (January 25, 2018). "Pacquiao's dream league comes to reality; Parañaque wins". Inquirer.net. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- Lagunzad, Jerome. "20 teams, so far, in MPBL". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- "Chooks-to-Go takes over MPBL's basketball operations". Tiebreaker Times. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- Giongco, Mark (March 6, 2021). "MPBL set to resume division finals on March 10". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- Tupas, Cedelf (June 1, 2020). "MPBL cancels 2020-2021 season". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- "Chooks-to-Go MPBL set to turn pro, removes Fil-for restrictions". Tiebreaker Times. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- "Chooks-to-Go MPBL officially turns pro". Tiebreaker Times. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- Joble, Rey (April 8, 2018). "Manila, Team Rizal raise Maharlika Pilipinas member teams to 15". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (April 25, 2018). "Ex-Navotas stars likely to rejoin old coach in new team in Marikina". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (April 24, 2018). "MPBL: Anybody wants to know what Pampanga's moniker is?". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (May 13, 2018). "Unheralded Lastimosa, 2 ex-pros lead Pasay's MPBL campaign". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- Joble, Rey. "Team Rizal planning to change moniker for MPBL season". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (April 7, 2018). "Ex-Senator Estrada excited to see Cardona-led San Juan Knights in MPBL". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (May 22, 2018). "MPBL welcomes Bacoor Strikers as 26th squad". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (May 2, 2018). "Gen San, Zamboanga join Davao Occi in MPBL's Vis-Min expansion". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (April 5, 2018). "Laguna 2nd expansion squad to join MPBL; San Juan, Makati next in line". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- Joble, Rey (December 26, 2021). "Davao Occidental leaves MPBL, named founding member of PSL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "ABS-CBN S+A is broadcaster of Pacman's cage league". Manila Standard. January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- "Tratter: MPBL rule on Fil-foreigners taking away opportunity from players". ESPN.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- Henson, Joaquin (February 22, 2018). "Manny Pacquiao upbeat on MPBL expansion". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- Nicolas, Jino (February 8, 2018). "Tanduay Athletics locked in for grassroots basketball". BusinessWorld. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- "MPBL scraps limit on Fil-foreign players per team - for the time being". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- "Contentious MPBL rule on Fil-foreigners stays: 'I'm very sorry sa players na naapektuhan'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. May 22, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- "MPBL raises limit on Fil-foreigners to two, ex-pros to seven per team". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. May 17, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
