2023 MPBL season

The 2023 MPBL season was the fifth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the second as a professional league. The regular season began on March 11, 2023 and was originally scheduled to end on September 30, 2023, but got postponed to October 3, 2023. The playoffs began on October 6, 2023 and ended on December 2, 2023, when the Pampanga Giant Lanterns defeated the Bacoor City Strikers in three games in the 2023 MPBL Finals.^[1] This season featured 29 teams, which included two expansion teams: the Negros Muscovados and the Quezon Huskers.

2023 MPBL season
League	Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
Sport	Basketball
Duration	Regular season: March 11 – October 3, 2023 Playoffs: October 6 – November 17, 2023 Finals: November 25 – December 2, 2023
Number of games	405 (regular season) 28 (playoffs)
Number of teams	29
TV partner(s)	Cignal TV (One PH, One Sports+, Media Pilipinas TV, Cignal Play, Pilipinas Live)
Regular season
Top seed	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Season MVP	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga)
Playoffs
North Division champions	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
North Division runners-up	San Juan Knights
South Division champions	Bacoor City Strikers
South Division runners-up	Batangas City Embassy Chill
Finals
Champions	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Runners-up	Bacoor City Strikers
Finals MVP	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga)
MPBL seasons
← 2022 2024 →

The opening ceremonies took place at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena, Quezon. The 2023 MPBL All-Star Game was held at Bataan People's Center in Balanga, Bataan, where the North Division beat the South Division for the first time with a score of 99–91.

The league took two breaks during the regular season, during Holy Week and during the Philippines' co-hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.^[2]

OKBet continued to be the league's title sponsor throughout the regular season.^[3]

Teams

Team changes

This season featured two expansion teams: the Negros Muscovados making its first regular season appearance after competing in the 2021 Invitational, and the Quezon Huskers making its first league appearance altogether. Five teams also made their return to the league, which includes the Bicol Volcanoes, Bulacan Kuyas, Iloilo United Royals, Parañaque Patriots and Pasay Voyagers. This increased the total number of teams from 22 teams in 2022 to 29 teams in 2023.^[2]

Every returning team is allocated to its previous division, while both Negros and Quezon are placed in the South Division. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned back to the North Division.

Arenas

	Expansion team
	Returning team
	Team switched divisions
	New arena

North Division Team Arena Capacity Bataan Risers Bataan People's Center 4,000 Bulacan Kuyas Baliwag Star Arena 5,000 Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Caloocan Sports Complex 3,000 Makati OKBet Kings No home games Manila Stars San Andres Sports Complex 3,000 Marikina Shoemasters Marikina Sports Center 7,000 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Nueva Ecija Coliseum 3,000 Pampanga Giant Lanterns Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 3,000 Parañaque Patriots Olivarez College Gymnasium 3,500 Pasay Voyagers Cuneta Astrodome 12,000 Pasig City MCW Sports Ynares Sports Arena 3,000 Quezon City Toda Aksyon No home games Rizal Golden Coolers Ynares Center 7,400 One Arena N/A San Juan Knights Filoil EcoOil Centre 6,000 Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. WES Arena N/A

South Division Team Arena Capacity Bacolod City of Smiles No home games Bacoor City Strikers Strike Gymansium 1,500 Batangas City Embassy Chill Batangas City Sports Coliseum 2,500 Batangas State University Gymnasium 4,000 Bicol Volcanoes No home games GenSan Warriors Lagao Gymnasium^[I] 6,000 Iloilo United Royals Passi City Arena 2,000 Imus SV Squad Imus City Sports Complex 1,000 Laguna Heroes Santa Rosa Sports Complex 5,700 Laguna Sports Complex 2,500 Mindoro Disiplinados Sentrong Pangkabataan N/A Muntinlupa Cagers Muntinlupa Sports Center 3,000 Negros Muscovados La Salle Coliseum 8,000 Quezon Huskers Quezon Convention Center 8,000 Sarangani Marlins No home games Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum 12,000

Neutral
Event	Arena	Capacity
–	Paco Arena^[N]	1,000

Notes

• ^I Only used for the 2023 Preseason Invitational.
• ^N Despite the presence of the Manila Stars, the arena was not used by the team during the season.

Name changes

• The Batangas City Embassy Chill temporarily changed its name to Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters during the 2023 Preseason Invitational.
• The Imus City Bandera changed its name to Imus SV Squad before the 2023 Preseason Invitational.
• The Bacolod Bingo Plus changed its name to Bacolod City of Smiles before the start of the season. The team is alternatively known as the Bacolod Maskaras.
• The Caloocan Excellence changed its name to Caloocan Batang Kankaloo before the start of the season.
• The Laguna Heroes Krah Asia changed its name to Laguna Krah Asia before the start of the season.
• The Makati × MNL Kingpin changed its name to Makati OKBet Kings before the start of the season.
• The Mindoro Tams changed its name to Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados before the start of the season, then later changed to Mindoro Disiplinados in June 2023.
• The Quezon City MG changed its name to Quezon City Gaz N Go before the start of the season, then later changed to Quezon City Toda Aksyon in June 2023.

Coaching changes

Off-season
Team	Outgoing coach	Incoming coach
Bacolod City of Smiles	Alexander Angeles	Monel Kallos
Bulacan Kuyas	Kerwin McCoy	Alvin Grey
Bacoor City Strikers	Willie Generalao	Alexander Angeles
Bicol Volcanoes	Monel Kallos	Vis Valencia
GenSan Warriors	Marlon Martin	Jesus Ramon Pido
Imus SV Squad	Renniel Cabrera	Jinino Manansala
Iloilo United Royals	Eric Gonzales	Manu Inigo
Makati OKBet Kings	Vis Valencia	Don Dulay
Manila Stars	Maximino Dayandante, Jr.	Tylon Darjuan
Muntinlupa Cagers	Vincent Salvador	Jack Azcueta
Pasig City MCW Sports	Ogie Gumatay	Boyet Fernandez
Quezon City Toda Aksyon	Alvin Grey	Teng Torcuator
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.	Lester Alvarez	Jhon Velasquez
Mid-season
Bacolod City of Smiles	Monel Kallos	Vincent Salvador
Bataan Risers	Ricky Dandan	Alex Callueng
Bicol Volcanoes	Vis Valencia	Jason Santiago
Bulacan Kuyas	Alvin Grey Jerry Codinera	Jerry Codinera Joseph Mabagos
GenSan Warriors	Jesus Ramon Pido	Rich Alvarez
Iloilo United Royals	Manu Inigo	MC Abolucion
Manila Stars	Tylon Darjuan Bam Ledesma	Bam Ledesma Bimbot Anquilo
Muntinlupa Cagers	Jack Azcueta	Aldrin Morante
Negros Pau Muscovados	Rolando Aledron, Jr.	Bonnie Garcia
Quezon City Toda Aksyon	Teng Torcuator Weng Adina	Weng Adina Egay Macaraya
San Juan Knights	Randy Alcantara	Jinggoy Estrada
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.	Jhon Velasquez	Eric Martinez
Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines	Vic Ycasiano	Louie Alas

Pre-season

Main article: 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational

This season was preceded by the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational, which used a similar format to the 2021 Invitational, but downsized because of the smaller eight-team pool. The tournament ran for one week from February 21–27, 2023 at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos, the home arena of the GenSan Warriors.^[2]

The tournament was won by the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines after beating the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the final game with a score of 88–80, with Dexter Maiquez winning MVP honors.^[4]

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held on March 11, 2023 at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena, Quezon. Rapper Andrew E. and singer Marcelito Pomoy were both among the performers to kick off the regular season. Like previous seasons, a muse contest followed wherein some teams took part in.

The first game was between the Rizal Golden Coolers and the Bataan Risers, while the first home game featured the two expansion teams this season, with the Quezon Huskers hosting the Negros Muscovados.

Regular season

Format

The 29 teams play in a single round-robin format, playing one game against all other teams in the league for a total of 28 games. In each gameday, a series of games is played in a designated home arena, with the home team usually playing in the final game.

The top eight teams in each division will advance to a four-round, single-elimination playoffs, playing in best-of-three series in the first three rounds, and a best-of-five series in the National Finals, with homecourt advantage alternating between the higher seeds of each series in the first two rounds.

Postponed and cancelled games

• The Bacoor City–Bataan and Quezon–Marikina games, originally scheduled for September 22, 2023 at Marikina Sports Center, were postponed due to health concerns brought by volcanic smog. Both were then postponed to October 3, 2023, while the venue remained unchanged.^[5]
  • The Laguna–Manila game, also originally scheduled for September 22, 2023, was later cancelled due to it having no effect on playoff standings.^[5]

Standings

North Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GB
1	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	28	26	2	—
2	Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	28	23	5	3
3	Makati OKBet Kings	28	21	7	5
4	Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	28	20	8	6
5	Pasig City MCW Sports	28	19^[a]	9	7
6	San Juan Knights	28	19^[a]	9	7
7	Pasay Voyagers	28	17	11	9
8	Marikina Shoemasters	28	16	12	10
9	Bataan Risers	28	13	15	13
10	Rizal Golden Coolers	28	12	16	14
11	Parañaque Patriots	28	11	17	15
12	Bulacan Kuyas	28	7	21	19
13	Manila Stars	27	4	23	21.5
14	Quezon City Toda Aksyon	28	3^[b]	25	23
15	Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.	28	3^[b]	25	23

Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Head-to-head point differential; 4) Head-to-head points scored; 5) Overall point differential; 6) Overall points scored.
Notes:

1. Pasig wins tiebreaker over San Juan based on head-to-head victory.
2. Quezon City wins tiebreaker over Valenzuela based on head-to-head victory.

South Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GB
1	Bacoor City Strikers	28	23	5	—
2	Batangas City Embassy Chill	28	22	6	1
3	GenSan Warriors	28	21	7	2
4	Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines	28	20	8	3
5	Quezon Huskers	28	19	9	4
6	Muntinlupa Cagers	28	16	12	7
7	Imus SV Squad	28	15	13	8
8	Iloilo United Royals	28	12	16	11
9	Bacolod City of Smiles	28	11^[a]	17	12
10	Sarangani Marlins	28	11^[a]	17	12
11	Negros Muscovados	28	10	18	13
12	Mindoro Disiplinados	28	6	22	17
13	Laguna Krah Asia	27	4	23	18.5
14	Bicol Volcanoes	28	1	27	22

Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Head-to-head point differential; 4) Head-to-head points scored; 5) Overall point differential; 6) Overall points scored.
Notes:

1. Bacolod wins tiebreaker over Sarangani based on head-to-head victory.

Results

Each team plays every team once. Number of asterisks after each score denotes number of overtimes played.

Teams	BCD	BCR	BAN	BTG	BCL	BUL	CAL	GS	ILO	IMS	LAG	MKT	MNL	MAR	MDR	MUN	NEG	NE	PAM	PAR	PSY	PSG	QZN	QC	RZL	SJ	SAR	VAL	ZAM
Bacolod		86–91	73–69	74–105	93–82	85–84	62–67	80–87	73–80	68–74	84–66	58–63	90–86	67–79	69–60	73–72	88–102	72–90	86–103	77–71	63–67	55–61	56–63	91–75	63–72	69–80	95–91	102–98	77–89
Bacoor City			93–65	71–64	113–75	78–69	75–84**	74–68	74–69*	60–52	75–65	81–77	76–62	75–55	95–76	74–73	88–72	75–83	70–78	83–58	79–65	72–79	75–43	93–58	86–69	73–49	85–70	76–68	81–92
Bataan				60–72	101–58	65–73	71–77	65–99	89–77	68–75	20–0^[a]	68–65	60–62	76–73	72–66	85–90	67–64	69–72	72–74	92–56	76–77	67–70	64–61	80–68	70–61	84–86	95–77	80–76	55–74
Batangas City					114–66	76–60	80–67	75–58	78–55	70–71	97–62	80–82	94–79	82–56	98–70	90–84*	83–62	56–68	95–92	92–58	69–54	80–73	84–80*	111–63	78–70	76–91	63–56	104–55	74–81
Bicol						107–115	81–109	80–121	77–109	66–107	80–89	56–73	104–113	59–100	96–93	58–84	76–121	86–129	87–132	55–75	68–75	75–115	74–96	81–85	78–82	63–82	65–73	78–82	64–93
Bulacan							58–70	69–87	85–76	66–125	105–114	76–72	68–72	73–118	73–86	61–78	64–66	67–76	88–121	56–69	56–84	79–110	60–73	100–84	70–87	68–108	75–73	75–71	90–111
Caloocan								90–95	91–87*	80–71	101–81	76–72	79–75	67–75	99–74	81–80	84–82	60–67	68–76	86–80	79–62	74–82	64–67	81–49	108–82	68–76	138–59	83–72	93–74
General Santos									86–84	68–64	89–77	72–79	82–70	85–80	87–78	60–67	88–74	93–97	81–83*	89–82	89–55	91–76	89–71	118–77	80–78	83–88	114–92	109–86	74–71
Iloilo										58–61	57–55	80–87	70–66	71–83	86–79	80–72	78–82	74–80	66–93	79–92	84–85	63–75	73–64	77–51	78–75	73–75	100–98	82–79	86–80
Imus											64–48	83–84*	72–66	103–89	96–74	90–80	88–83*	63–84	72–93	81–86	68–74	60–79	75–77	79–58	65–71	82–93	90–87	80–66	54–71
Laguna												67–72	—^[b]	87–94	74–78	62–70	72–76*	70–97	85–109	74–68	78–88	72–84	76–101	102–94	71–75	63–110	85–101	69–73	62–92
Makati													86–64	73–71	77–60	66–67	75–86	68–61	102–97*	76–65	76–61	75–70	72–80	92–70	81–73	95–84	113–88	86–60	95–75
Manila														77–79	78–80	74–85	60–69	98–107	63–91	72–74	70–77	77–89	62–73	90–100*	94–98	85–109	64–81	93–83	80–105
Marikina															96–90	75–79*	69–58	86–88*	75–83	95–89	72–75*	66–71	73–70	89–50	90–70	75–73	103–105*	81–68	74–71
Mindoro																75–84	77–92	69–84	70–91	80–84	86–89*	79–88	80–85	79–77	68–75	100–116	107–97	110–93	83–102
Muntinlupa																	77–71	67–71	73–87	73–63	71–72	87–84*	78–85	76–43	64–69	91–90	105–104*	89–79	67–89
Negros																		72–94	66–79	74–78	73–79	76–85	80–82	77–61	69–78	66–73	103–109*	94–75	71–72
Nueva Ecija																			64–76	91–74	88–79	69–65	86–87*	95–53	87–70	99–97*	123–134**	107–78	65–67
Pampanga																				88–82	108–89	81–66	83–60	115–79	93–80	89–73	99–92	79–55	77–71
Parañaque																					79–98	58–96	61–75	87–73	79–80	82–88	77–75	84–75	86–77*
Pasay																						64–77	49–64	72–64	65–59	75–74	69–84	89–60	66–77
Pasig City																							58–74	96–72	82–64	90–75	65–82	85–62	93–95*
Quezon																								81–63	74–73	69–98	87–92*	89–77	70–66
Quezon City																									66–102	77–113	68–94	88–79	66–99
Rizal																										65–79	77–71	80–85	57–74
San Juan																											103–87	115–86	66–80
Sarangani																												107–98	63–83
Valenzuela																													54–98
Zamboanga

Source: Standings
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Red = top row team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.
Notes:

1. The Bataan–Laguna game was forfeited due to Laguna's late arrival. As per FIBA rules, Bataan won the game and was awarded a score of 20–0.
2. The Laguna–Manila game, originally scheduled for September 22, 2023, was going to be postponed due to health concerns brought by volcanic smog. It was later cancelled due to it having no effect on playoff standings.

Playoffs

Main article: 2023 MPBL playoffs

The 2023 MPBL playoffs began on October 6, 2023.

Bracket

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its division, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. Teams with homecourt advantage, the higher-seeded team, are shown in italics.

First Round (Best-of-3)

Division Semifinals (Best-of-3)

Division Finals (Best-of-3)

National Finals (Best-of-5)

N1

Pampanga

2

N8

Marikina

0

N1

Pampanga

2

N4

Caloocan

0

N4

Caloocan

2

N5

Pasig City

1

N1

Pampanga

2

North Division

N6

San Juan

0

N2

Nueva Ecija

2

N7

Pasay

0

N2

Nueva Ecija

0

N6

San Juan

2

N3

Makati

0

N6

San Juan

2

N1

Pampanga

3

S1

Bacoor City

0

S1

Bacoor City

2

S8

Iloilo

1

S1

Bacoor City

2

S4

Zamboanga

0

S4

Zamboanga

2

S5

Quezon

1

S1

Bacoor City

2

South Division

S2

Batangas City

0

S2

Batangas City

2

S7

Imus

0

S2

Batangas City

2

S3

General Santos

1

S3

General Santos

2

S6

Muntinlupa

1

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Summary

First Round

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
North Division
(1) Pampanga Giant Lanterns	2–0	(8) Marikina Shoemasters	82–70	81–61	—
(2) Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	2–0	(7) Pasay Voyagers	85–81	71–62	—
(3) Makati OKBet Kings	0–2	(6) San Juan Knights	84–95	92–95 (2OT)	—
(4) Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	2–1	(5) Pasig City MCW Sports	71–69	61–65	68–60
South Division
(1) Bacoor City Strikers	2–1	(8) Iloilo United Royals	86–89	92–52	72–61
(2) Batangas City Embassy Chill	2–0	(7) Imus SV Squad	78–71	61–59	—
(3) GenSan Warriors	2–1	(6) Muntinlupa Cagers	79–70	91–99	85–78
(4) Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines	2–1	(5) Quezon Huskers	77–68	58–65	88–76

Division Semifinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
North Division
(1) Pampanga Giant Lanterns	2–0	(4) Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	74–63	93–77	—
(2) Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	0–2	(6) San Juan Knights	82–86	80–88	—
South Division
(1) Bacoor City Strikers	2–0	(4) Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines	61–56	78–72	—
(2) Batangas City Embassy Chill	2–1	(3) GenSan Warriors	81–75	55–61	66–62

Division Finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
North Division
(1) Pampanga Giant Lanterns	2–0	(6) San Juan Knights	86–82	82–76	—
South Division
(1) Bacoor City Strikers	2–0	(2) Batangas City Embassy Chill	89–68	54–49	—

MPBL Finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5
(N1) Pampanga Giant Lanterns	3–0	(S1) Bacoor City Strikers	71–58	68–65	82–77	—	—

All-Star Game

Main article: 2023 MPBL All-Star Game

The 2023 MPBL All-Star Game, the league's fourth overall, took place on September 16, 2023 at the Bataan People's Center in Balanga, Bataan, the home arena of the Bataan Risers. The North Division finally won against the South Division after three seasons, with a score of 99–91, with All-Star MVP honors going to Justine Baltazar.

Records and milestones

Records

• May 30, 2023 – Justine Baltazar of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns broke the single-game rebounding record, with 27 rebounds against the Bataan Risers.^[6]
• June 3, 2023:
  • Jeff Viernes of the Sarangani Marlins broke the single-game scoring record, with 50 points against the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, beating the previous record held by John Wilson in 2019.^[7]
  • Sarangani won 134–123, putting an end to Nueva Ecija's 32-game regular season winning streak, which began at the start of the 2022 season. The 257 total points scored between the two teams is also the most such in a single game.^[7]
• August 2, 2023 – Poypoy Actub of the Imus SV Squad broke the single-game dunking record, with 7 dunks against the Bulacan Kuyas.^[8]
• September 30, 2023 – The Pampanga Giant Lanterns tied the record for most wins in a single season, earning its 26th win against the San Juan Knights. The San Juan Knights and Davao Occidental Tigers both had 26 wins in the 2019–20 season.

Milestones

• March 11, 2023 – James Castro becomes the 14th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• March 20, 2023 – Chito Jaime becomes the 15th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• March 25, 2023 – Allan Mangahas becomes the 16th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• March 27, 2023 – Alwyn Alday becomes the 17th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• March 30, 2023 – Felix Apreku becomes the second player to reach 1,000 MPBL career rebounds.
• May 22, 2023 – Mark Montuano becomes the 18th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• May 27, 2023 – Chris Bitoon becomes the 19th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• May 30, 2023 – Dhon Reverente becomes the 20th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• June 7, 2023:
  • Paul Sanga becomes the 21st player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
  • Reil Cervantes becomes the 22nd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
  • James Martinez becomes the 23rd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• June 26, 2023 – Dhon Reverente becomes the second player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points and rebounds.
• July 5, 2023 – Jeff Viernes becomes the 24th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• August 18, 2023 – Robin Roño becomes the 25th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• October 14, 2023 – Jhaymo Eguilos becomes the 26th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• October 24, 2023 – Dave Moralde becomes the 27th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.

Statistics

Individual statistical leaders

Category	Player	Team	Statistic
Points per game	Jeff Viernes	Sarangani Marlins	17.7
Rebounds per game	Justine Baltazar	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	16.9
Assists per game	Paulo Hubalde	Mindoro Disiplinados	8.3
Steals per game	Jeckster Apinan	Batangas City Embassy Chill	2.3
Blocks per game	Jason Ballesteros	Pasig City MCW Sports	1.5
Fouls per game	Jamil Gabawan Ryan Ongteco	Bataan Risers Iloilo United Royals	3.2
Minutes per game	Justine Baltazar	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	31.3
FG%	Justine Baltazar	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	54.4%
FT%	Rafael Are	Sarangani Marlins	83.1%
3FG%	Rodel Vaygan	Mindoro Disiplinados	43.7%

Team statistical leaders

Category	Team	Statistic
Points per game	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	88.9
Rebounds per game	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	55.8
Assists per game	Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	25.7
Steals per game	Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	10.4
Blocks per game	Marikina Shoemasters	3.9
Turnovers per game	Bicol Volcanoes	17.8

Awards

Individual season awards

Most of the league's individual season awards were given out on November 28, 2023 before game 2 of the National Finals series at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The Finals Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year were awarded at the conclusion of the National Finals on December 2, 2023 at Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite.

Two new awards were introduced this season, these awards are the Most Improved Player and the Impact Player of the Year.

Award	Recipient	Team
Most Valuable Player	Justine Baltazar	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Finals Most Valuable Player	Justine Baltazar	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Defensive Player of the Year	Jason Ballesteros	Pasig City MCW Sports
Rookie of the Year	Adrian Nocum	San Juan Knights
Homegrown Player of the Year	Cris Masaglang	GenSan Warriors
Most Improved Player	Jhan Nermal	Bacoor City Strikers
Impact Player of the Year	Poypoy Actub	Imus SV Squad
Coach of the Year	Dennis Pineda	Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Executive of the Year	Manuel Carlos Ilagan Jr.	Bataan Risers
MPBL Sportsmanship Award	Jay-R Taganas	Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards

All-MPBL teams

All-MPBL First Team Player Team Justine Baltazar Pampanga Giant Lanterns Jaycee Marcelino Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Will McAloney Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Jhan Nermal Bacoor City Strikers Orlan Wamar Jr. San Juan Knights

All-MPBL Second Team Player Team Jeckster Apinan Batangas City Embassy Chill Robby Celiz Makati OKBet Kings Archie Concepcion Pampanga Giant Lanterns Ryan Costelo Pasig City MCW Sports James Kwekuteye Bacoor City Strikers

Players of the Week

This is the first season in which the league awards the Player of the Week award during the playoffs, during which it is called the Playoffs Performer of the Week. It is only given out during the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The league also did not give out the Player of the Week in weeks leading to breaks, as well as in the last week of the regular season.

Week	Player	Ref.
Regular season
March 11–18, 2023	Jerick Nacpil (Bulacan Kuyas)
March 20–26, 2023	Jimboy Estrada (Imus SV Squad)
March 27 – April 1, 2023	Shane Menina (Pasig City MCW Sports)
April 3–4, 2023	Not awarded (Holy Week)
April 13–15, 2023	Troy Mallillin (Rizal Golden Coolers)
April 17–22, 2023	Laurenz Victoria (Pasay Voyagers)
April 24–29, 2023	Agem Miranda (Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados)
May 1–6, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (1/6)
May 8–13, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (2/6)
May 15–20, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (3/6)
May 22–27, 2023	Jhan Nermal (Bacoor City Strikers) (1/2)
May 29 – June 3, 2023	Jeff Viernes (Sarangani Marlins)
June 5–10, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (4/6)
June 12–17, 2023	Jhan Nermal (Bacoor City Strikers) (2/2)
June 19–24, 2023	Jaymar Gimpayan (Imus SV Squad)
June 26 – July 1, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (5/6)
July 3–8, 2023	Ryan Costelo (Pasig City MCW Sports)
July 10–15, 2023	Omar Larupay (Iloilo United Royals)
July 17–22, 2023	Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns) (6/6)
July 24–29, 2023	Mark Sarangay (Bacolod Maskaras)
July 31 – August 5, 2023	Keith Agovida (Makati OKBet Kings)
August 7–12, 2023	Poypoy Actub (Imus SV Squad)
August 14–19, 2023	Yves Sazon (Bataan Risers)
August 21–24, 2023	Not awarded (FIBA Basketball World Cup)
September 11–14, 2023	Ian Melencio (Muntinlupa Cagers)
September 18–23, 2023	Rodel Gravera (Quezon Huskers)
September 25–30, 2023	Not awarded
Playoffs
October 6–7, 2023	Gabby Espinas (Caloocan Batang Kankaloo)
October 9–14, 2023	Robbie Manalang (Pasig City MCW Sports)
October 16–21, 2023	Ian Melencio (Muntinlupa Cagers)
October 24–28, 2023	Orlan Wamar Jr. (San Juan Knights)
November 3–4, 2023	Michael Calisaan (San Juan Knights)

Notable events

• August 8, 2023 – The Bataan–Laguna game was forfeited in Bataan's favor, marking the first time in league history that a game was forfeited in its entirety. (The Basilan–Davao Occidental playoff game in 2021 was classified as "defaulted".)^[9]
• September 17, 2023 – Over 30 MPBL players were drafted during the PBA Season 48 draft, a big increase from the seven drafted in Season 47. Nueva Ecija's Kemark Cariño was the first MPBL player and first local player drafted, picked 13th overall by the Terrafirma Dyip during the second round.^[10]

Junior MPBL tournaments

The league's youth-oriented counterpart, the Junior MPBL, began its inaugural 2023 season on July 9, 2023 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.^[11] The following tournaments took place during the 2023 professional season.

14-Under Division Champion Series Runner-up North Mindoro Junior Disiplinados 2–1 Quezon City 828 Junior Giants South Cavite City Aces Solar 2–1 Leyte XUR Homes Overall Cavite City Aces Solar 2–0 Mindoro Junior Disiplinados

16-Under Division Champion Series Runner-up North Quezon City 828 Junior Giants 2–1 Pampanga Giant Lanterns South Davao Red Cubs 2–1 Bauan Cafe Uno Overall Davao Red Cubs 2–0 Quezon City 828 Junior Giants

18-Under Division Champion Series Runner-up North Mandaluyong Junior Microsmith 2–1 Rizal Switch Fiber South Davao Red Cubs 2–0 Bauan Cafe Uno Overall Mandaluyong Junior Microsmith 2–1 Davao Red Cubs

Media

This season marked the second year of Cignal TV's ongoing television broadcast rights with the league. Carrying over from the previous season, games were also broadcast on One PH and One Sports+, the latter was only used for the Invitational tournament. Since April 13, Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV) began broadcasting all games.

This season saw an expansion of the league's streaming portfolio. Cignal's Pilipinas Live began streaming games in June 2023, while Bola.TV began in August 2023. The league continued to broadcast its games on Facebook, YouTube, and Cignal Play.

Notes

References

1. "Pampanga sweeps Bacoor to win MPBL title on the road". Philippine Star. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
2. "MPBL welcomes Quezon Province, Negros Muscovados". Manila Bulletin. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
3. Aquino, Roselle (February 17, 2023). "OKBet continues to support sports, promote responsible gaming". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
4. "Zamboanga rules MPBL Preseason Cup". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
5. "MPBL games in Marikina cancelled due to Metro Manila smog". Spin.ph. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
6. "Baltazar hauls MPBL record 27 rebounds as Pampanga stretches win streak". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
7. "Viernes sets MPBL record 50 points in Sarangani's 2OT win". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
8. "MPBL: Actub leads Imus dunk fest as Pasig, Marikina triumph". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
9. "Laguna loses MPBL game by default after arriving 45 minutes late". spin.ph. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
10. "What does Season 48 PBA Rookie Draft mean for Philippine basketball?". ESPN.com. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
11. Matel, Philip (July 10, 2023). "Junior MPBL seeks expansion after maiden season". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 27, 2023.