Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines consisting of 29 teams.
| Current season, competition or edition: 2023 MPBL playoffs | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 29, 2017 |
| Founder | Manny Pacquiao |
| Inaugural season | 2018 |
| COO | Zaldy Realubit |
| Commissioner | Kenneth Duremdes |
| Motto | Ang Liga Ng Bawat Pilipino (The League of Every Filipino) |
| No. of teams | 29 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Headquarters | Pasig, Philippines |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (1st title) |
| Most titles | 4 teams (1 title each) |
| TV partner(s) | One Sports One PH Cignal TV Media Pilipinas TV YouTube |
| Official website | www |
The league was launched on August 29, 2017 by Manny Pacquiao, originally as a semi-professional league.[1][2] According to Pacquiao, the league is not intended to be a competitor to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the country's top professional basketball league. The MPBL was intended to feature both the regional commercial and barangay-level league, with teams on the commercial side to have a home locality in addition to a corporate sponsor.[3] The league was given professional status on December 9, 2021.[4] The league's youth-oriented counterpart, the Junior MPBL, began its inaugural season on July 9, 2023. A volleyball counterpart called the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) began on October 22, 2023.[5]
Four different teams have won the league championship, with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards being the current defending champions, beating the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines 3-1 in the 2022 MPBL Finals.
History Edit
Semi-professional era (2018–2021) Edit
During its first year, the league hosted teams from Luzon with future plans to expand to Visayas and Mindanao like the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. It was planned that an expanded MPBL will have two divisions, North and South, where the best team from both divisions will face in a finals series similar to the format of the National Basketball Association in North America.[3] The league was planned to start as early as September 23, 2017 with at least six teams.[6] A pre-season tournament was held with the Bulacan Kuyas finishing as champions.[7]
The MPBL began its first season on January 25, 2018, and included ten teams, all based in Luzon.[8] Teams are required to have at least three homegrown players in their roster.[9] In the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Parañaque Patriots secured a 70–60 victory over the Caloocan Supremos.[10] The playoffs only features eight teams due to its small size at the time, as the Batangas City Athletics were crowned as the league's inaugural champions when they defeated the Muntinlupa Cagers in the 2018 MPBL Finals.
In the 2018–19 season, the league expanded to 26 teams, adding 16 expansion teams to the league. After ten expansion teams from Luzon were admitted into the league, it closed its doors so that it could leave room for future Visayas and Mindanao teams.[11] The North and South Divisions were introduced and the playoff format was changed to accommodate 16 teams. The league also placed roster restrictions on teams, only allowing one Filipino-foreigner and up to five ex-professional players.[12] The San Juan Knights then became the 2019 champions, beating the Davao Occidental Tigers.
The 2019–20 season featured 31 teams participating in the league, the most the league had in its history, adding six expansion teams but also saw its first departing team, the Mandaluyong El Tigre. Roster restrictions were also relaxed, allowing more Filipino-foreigners and ex-professional players to play in the league.[13] In December 2019, Chooks-to-Go of Bounty Agro Ventures became the title sponsor of the league under a five-year deal.[14]
COVID-19 disruption (2020–2021) Edit
The 2019–20 season was postponed on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after the second game of the Divisional Finals. Nearly one year later, the league resumed play for the final games of the playoffs on March 10, 2021 through a bubble in Subic.[15] Davao Occidental beat San Juan in a rematch of last season's Finals to become the 2020 champions. Because of the long delay, the 2020–21 season was cancelled altogether.[16] In October 2021, Chooks-to-Go took over the operations of the league.[14]
Professional era (2021–present) Edit
On November 9, 2021, it was announced that the MPBL will turn into a professional league. A month later, on December 9, 2021, the MPBL was granted professional status by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).[4] The league's first professional event was the 2021 Invitational, which was the first preseason tournament under the Invitational label. During the Invitational, all roster restrictions were lifted.[17][18] The Basilan Jumbo Plastic became the Invitational champions and also won a prize pot of two million pesos.
This is followed by the 2022 season, which featured 22 of the 31 teams from the previous season. The season marked a new sponsorship with sports betting platform OKBet, making them the title sponsor.[19] On October 10, 2022, Kyt Jimenez of the Sarangani Marlins became the first player in league history to record a quadruple-double.[20] The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards went undefeated in the regular season and subsequently became the 2022 champions, winning against the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.
The 2023 season features 29 teams, including two expansion teams and five returning teams.[21] The 2023 Preseason Invitational was held in General Santos featuring eight teams, among those teams is the first guest team in the league, General Santos-based Bulalakaw.[22] Zamboanga won the preseason tournament, beating Nueva Ecija. On June 3, 2023, Jeff Viernes of the Sarangani Marlins recorded the league's first 50-point game.[23]
Junior MPBL and the MPVA (2023) Edit
On June 15, 2023, the Junior MPBL was unveiled by Pacquiao in a press conference. The youth-oriented league's inaugural season began on July 9, 2023 and features 22 teams, all competing in under-14, under-16, and under-18 divisions.[24] In the same press conference, Pacquiao also shared intent to create a volleyball counterpart similar to the MPBL that will cater to female players.[25] The league will be called the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) and is expected to start in October 2023 with at least eight teams, with the possibility of a men's division in 2024.[5] A press conference on the MPVA was held on September 15, 2023 in which Pacquiao stated that ten teams have committed to participating in the volleyball league's inaugural season. He also mentioned a plan for the MPVA to have its own junior's division.[26]
Teams Edit
During its first season in 2018, the MPBL had ten teams entering the league, all based in Luzon. Since then, it has expanded into Visayas and Mindanao. In the 2023 season, there are 29 teams participating in the league.
Teams are usually owned by their respective local governments and backed by team sponsors. Team names can change as a result of managerial and/or sponsorship changes.
Current teams Edit
Bacolod and Negros Bicol class=notpageimage| Locations of MPBL teams outside of NCR and Cavite (NCR is pinned by a yellow pog for reference) | class=notpageimage| Metro Manila (NCR) and Cavite MPBL Teams |
| North Division | South Division |
| Team | Location | Sponsors | Arena[a] | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Division | |||||||
| Bataan Risers | Balanga, Bataan | Camaya Coast | Bataan People's Center | 4,000 | 2018 | Alex Callueng | |
| Bulacan Kuyas | Baliwag, Bulacan | — | Baliwag Star Arena | 5,000 | 2017[b] | Joseph Mabagos | |
| Caloocan Batang Kankaloo | Caloocan | — | Caloocan Sports Complex | 3,000 | 2017 | Ronnie Dojillo | |
| Makati OKBet Kings[27][28] | Makati | OKBet | — | 2018 | Don Dulay | ||
| Manila Stars[29] | Manila | 747 Sports | San Andres Sports Complex | 3,000 | 2018 | Bimbot Anquilo | |
| Marikina Shoemasters[30] | Marikina | — | Marikina Sports Center | 7,000 | 2018 | Elvis Tolentino | |
| Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Palayan, Nueva Ecija | — | Nueva Ecija Coliseum | 3,000 | 2019 | Jerson Cabiltes | |
| Pampanga Giant Lanterns[31] | San Fernando, Pampanga | AMG3 Construction | Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center | 3,000 | 2018 | Dennis Pineda | |
| Parañaque Patriots | Parañaque | Okada Manila Illo's Group The Orange Platform | Olivarez College Coliseum | 3,500 | 2017[b] | Michael Saguiguit | |
| Pasay Voyagers[32] | Pasay | — | Cuneta Astrodome | 12,000 | 2018[b] | Marlon Martin | |
| Pasig City MCW Sports[33] | Pasig | MCW Sports | Ynares Sports Arena | 3,000 | 1998[c] | 2018 | Boyet Fernandez |
| Quezon City Toda Aksyon | Quezon City | Columbia International Food Products, Inc. | — | 2018 | Egay Macaraya | ||
| Rizal Golden Coolers[29][34] | Rizal | PTC Foodsphere Asia Corp. AMRC Holdings Company, Inc. | Ynares Center | 7,400 | 2018 | Jonathan Banal | |
| One Arena | N/A | ||||||
| San Juan Knights[35] | San Juan | Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation | Filoil EcoOil Centre | 5,500 | 1999[c] | 2018 | Randy Alcantara |
| Valenzuela XUR Homes | Valenzuela | XUR Homes Realty, Inc. | WES Arena | N/A | 2018 | Eric Martinez | |
| South Division | |||||||
| Bacolod City of Smiles | Bacolod, Negros Occidental | — | — | 2019 | Vincent Salvador | ||
| Bacoor City Strikers[36] | Bacoor, Cavite | Filbet.com | Strike Gymnasium | 1,500 | 2018 | Alexander Angeles | |
| Batangas City Embassy Chill | Batangas City, Batangas | Tanduay Distillers | Batangas City Coliseum | 4,000 | 2018 | Cholo Villanueva | |
| Batangas State University Gymnasium | 2,500 | ||||||
| Bicol Volcanoes | Bicol Region | Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. | — | 2019[b] | Jason Santiago | ||
| GenSan Warriors[37] | General Santos, South Cotabato | — | Lagao Gymnasium | 6,000 | 2005[d] | 2018 | Rich Alvarez |
| Iloilo United Royals | Passi, Iloilo | United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation | Passi City Arena | 2,000 | 2019[b] | MC Abolucion | |
| Imus SV Squad | Imus, Cavite | Tutok To Win Party-List | Imus Sports Complex | 1,000 | 2018 | Jinino Manansala | |
| Laguna Krah Asia[38] | Laguna | Krah Pipes Manila, Inc. | Santa Rosa Sports Complex | 5,700 | 2018 | Nath Gregorio | |
| Laguna Sports Complex | 2,500 | ||||||
| Mindoro Disiplinados | Calapan, Oriental Mindoro | — | Sentrong Pangkabataan | N/A | 2019 | Jonathan Reyes | |
| Muntinlupa Cagers | Muntinlupa | Paramount Logistics, Inc. | Muntinlupa Sports Center | 3,000 | 2018 | Aldrin Morante | |
| Negros Pau Muscovados[39] | Bacolod, Negros Occidental | ALDRTZ Corporation | La Salle Coliseum | 8,000 | 2021[e] | Bonnie Garcia | |
| Quezon Huskers[39] | Lucena, Quezon | — | Quezon Convention Center | 7,000 | 2004[f] | 2023 | Eric Gonzales |
| Sarangani Marlins | Sarangani | — | — | 1998[c] | 2019 | John Kallos | |
| Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines[37][40] | Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur | Universal Canning, Inc. | Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum | 12,000 | 2018[g] | Louie Alas | |
Former teams Edit
| Team | Location | Sponsors | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | Last season | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilan Steel | Lamitan, Basilan | Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Medical Depot | Lamitan Capitol Gym | 3,000 | 2018 | 2019–20[h] | Inactive | |
| Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol | Cebu | International Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Hoops Dome | 6,500 | 2018 | 2019–20 | Inactive | |
| Aznar Coliseum | 3,000 | |||||||
| Davao Occidental Tigers[41] | Davao Region[i] | United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation | RMC Petro Gazz Arena | 2,000 | 2018 | 2019–20 | Moved to Pilipinas Super League | |
| Davao City Recreation Center | 2,500 | |||||||
| Mandaluyong El Tigre | Mandaluyong | Dataland | Jose Rizal University Gym | 1,000 | 2018 | 2018–19 | Inactive | |
| Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines | Navotas | Slord Development Corporation | Navotas Sports Complex | 1,000 | 2018 | 2019–20 | Inactive | |
Timeline Edit
Active team Former team Future team Did not participate
Junior MPBL teams Edit
| Team | Location | Sponsors | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Division | ||||||
| Antipolo JY Titans | Antipolo, Rizal | — | Ynares Center | 7,400 | 2023 | |
| Bulacan JT Taipan | San Jose del Monte, Bulacan | — | San Jose del Monte Sports Complex | N/A | 2023 | |
| Malabon Fisher Mall BBSD | Malabon | Fisher Mall | Malabon Sports Complex | N/A | 2023 | |
| Mandaluyong Junior Microsmith | Mandaluyong | Microsmith | — | 2023 | ||
| Manila Pirates | Manila | — | San Andres Sports Complex | 3,000 | 2023 | |
| Marikina Junior Shoemasters | Marikina | — | Marikina Sports Center | 7,000 | 2023 | |
| Mindoro Junior Disiplinados | Mindoro | Decena Foundation | — | 2023 | ||
| Pampanga Giant Lanterns | San Fernando, Pampanga | — | Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center | 3,000 | 2023 | |
| Quezon City 828 Junior Giants | Quezon City | — | Amoranto Arena | 3,500 | 2023 | |
| Rizal Switch Fiber | Antipolo, Rizal | Switch Fiber | Ynares Center | 7,400 | 2023 | |
| Valenzuela Classic Jr. | Valenzuela | — | Bahayang Pag-asa Sports Complex | N/A | 2023 | |
| Manotoc Covered Court | N/A | |||||
| South Division | ||||||
| Batangas City Barakitos | Batangas City, Batangas | — | Batangas State University Gymnasium | 2,500 | 2023 | |
| Bauan Cafe Uno | Bauan, Batangas | Cafe Uno | Herminigildo Jasa Dolor Coliseum | N/A | 2023 | |
| Cavite City Aces Solar | Cavite City, Cavite | Aces Solar | Montano Hall Gymnasium | N/A | 2023 | |
| Dasmariñas Don Pacundo Hoops | Dasmariñas, Cavite | Don Pacundo Sportswear | — | 2023 | ||
| Davao Red Cubs | Davao City, Davao del Sur | — | — | 2023 | ||
| Imus AJAA Ballers | Imus, Cavite | — | — | 2023 | ||
| Las Piñas Whitening Warriors | Las Piñas | YSA Botanica | UPHSD Las Piñas | N/A | 2023 | |
| Villar Coliseum | N/A | |||||
| Leyte XUR Homes | Leyte | XUR Homes Realty, Inc. | — | 2023 | ||
| Muntinlupa JKLV Emeralds | Muntinlupa | JKLV Trading Corporation | — | 2023 | ||
| Quezon Junior Huskers | Quezon | — | — | 2023 | ||
| San Pedro Spartans | San Pedro, Laguna | — | — | 2023 | ||
Roster regulations Edit
There is no draft held during the off-season, instead, teams acquire their players through the signing of contracts. However, there is a set of roster regulations, putting restrictions on which and how many players each team can place onto its roster. The regulations have changed over time to allow more players to join the league.
As of 2023, these regulations are as follows:[42]
- Teams must have a minimum of 15 players and a maximum of 24 players.
- All local players are eligible to play in the league – naturally-born Filipino citizens.
- Each team must have at least three homegrown players on the roster – local players who are native to their team's home locality.
- Each team is limited to seven ex-PBA players – players with prior participation in the Philippine Basketball Association.
- Each team is limited to five collegiate players – players must be given a Special Guest License from the Games and Amusement Board.
- Each team is limited to two Filipino-foreigner players – Filipinos of foreign descent; players must be a holder of a Philippine passport.
Season format Edit
Preseason Edit
Before the regular season begins, an invitational tournament is held as part of the preseason. The tournament is divided into two phases: the group stage and the playoff tournament. In the group stage, the participating teams are divided into multiple groups, where each team will play against their group opponents once. The top two teams of each group advance to a single-elimination playoff tournament, with cash prizes awaiting the top teams.
Regular season Edit
The season opens with the opening ceremonies, which typically includes various performances and a muse contest between various teams.
The regular season uses a single round-robin format, similar to the format of the PBA, where each team plays against all of the other teams once. The teams are divided into the North and South Divisions, although it doesn't have any impact on the regular season schedule and is only used for the purpose of playoff seeding. In each gameday, a series of games is played in a team's homecourt, but not all games feature the host team, making them neutral-site games. Two or three games are usually played in each gameday, with the final game often featuring the host team. Occasionally, the league schedules an Invasion series, where all games are played within a single area, either locally or internationally.
Near the end of the regular season, the league holds its seasonal All-Star Game. Two teams representing the North and South Divisions are composed of fifteen players from each division, all of whom are declared as the season's all-stars. Alongside the All-Star Game are the various festivities held at the same day, including:
- Executives' Game: an exhibition game where only league executives and team staff play.
- Three-Point Shootout: an event where players must shoot as many three-pointers as possible from five different points around the court.
- Slam Dunk Contest: an event where players show off their dunking skills to earn the highest score possible.
The league uses the standard FIBA rules for all games. Since 2022, teams are ranked by the number of wins, not winning percentage.
Playoffs Edit
Since the 2018–19 season, top eight teams in each division advance to the playoffs and are seeded into a single-elimination bracket consisting of four rounds. Should there be any ties, the league uses the standard FIBA tiebreaker criteria:
- Head-to-head record between tied teams
- Head-to-head point differential between tied teams
- Head-to-head points scored between tied teams
- Overall point differential
- Overall points scored
Once a team is eliminated from a tiebreaker, the criteria resets back to the first step for the remaining teams.
The first three rounds – First Round, Division Semifinals, and Division Finals – are played in a best-of-three series, while the fourth and final round – the National Finals – is played in a best-of-five series.
The league uses a different homecourt advantage system, specifically for the first two rounds. In the First Round, only the top four teams can host gamedays. In the Division Semifinals, only the top two remaining teams can host gamedays. The Division Finals and National Finals both use traditional 1-1-1 and 2-2-1 formats, respectively, to determine homecourt advantage.
Trophies are given out to the winning team of each Division Finals series and the National Finals, with the winning team of the National Finals also being declared as the season's champions. During the National Finals, the league also gives out its end-of-season awards to the best players in various categories, including the regular season Most Valuable Player. The best player of the National Finals also given the Finals Most Valuable Player after the conclusion of the series.
Championships Edit
Six teams have appeared in the league's championship series, with San Juan and Davao Occidental both appearing twice. Four teams have each won the championship once.
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2019 | 2021 |
| Davao Occidental | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2021 | 2019 |
| Batangas City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2018 | — |
| Nueva Ecija | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2022 | — |
| Muntinlupa | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2018 |
| Zamboanga | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2022 |
Media coverage Edit
The MPBL employs its own broadcast team for all games, with the broadcast feed and commentary shared across all platforms. This centralized model is similar to the defunct Philippine Basketball League.
ABS-CBN and Fox Sports (2018–2021) Edit
On January 11, 2018, it was announced that ABS-CBN and its sports division would be the first television broadcasters in the league.[43] These games were broadcast on ABS-CBN, S+A, Liga, and its various regional stations in the Philippines, while The Filipino Channel broadcast the games for international markets. In addition, Fox Sports Asia also held the broadcast rights for Monday games until the 2018–19 season.
For streaming, the league began broadcasting all games on its Facebook page starting in 2018. ABS-CBN's streaming service iWantTFC first held the streaming rights from 2019 until 2022.
The broadcast rights were left in jeopardy when ABS-CBN's franchise was expired on May 4, 2020, which led to the dissolution of its sports division on August 31, 2020. Despite that, the network continued to broadcast games through A2Z, formed through a partnership agreement with ZOE TV, when the 2020 playoffs resumed.
IBC and TAP DMV (2021) Edit
Due to the lack of ABS-CBN's franchise, the league had to award the broadcast rights to another network ahead of the then-upcoming 2022 season. Prior to that, IBC acquired the television broadcast rights for the 2021 Invitational, with TAP DMV's TAP Go acquiring the streaming rights.
Cignal TV and Bola.TV (2022–present) Edit
In the 2022 season, Cignal TV took over as the league's main broadcast partner. One PH airs the last game of each game day, typically using a delayed telecast. One Sports+ also broadcasts a selection of preseason games. In the following season, Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV) began broadcasting games in April 2023.
The league also expanded its streaming portfolio during this time, as it began broadcasting on its respective Youtube and Kumu pages in 2022. To go alongside Cignal's television rights, Cignal Play began streaming all games. Bola.TV would later join in August 2023, which also allows its streamers to co-stream the main broadcast feed with their own commentary.
Commissioners Edit
| No. | Commissioner | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||
| 1 | Snow Badua | August 29, 2017 | November 22, 2017 |
| 2 | Kenneth Duremdes | November 22, 2017 | incumbent |
See also Edit
Footnotes Edit
- ^ Only arenas used during the 2023 season are shown here. For the full list, see List of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League arenas.
- ^ a b c d e Did not participate in 2022.
- ^ a b c Originally part of the Metropolitan Basketball Association.
- ^ Originally part of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association.
- ^ First competed in the 2021 MPBL Invitational, became a full-time team in 2023.
- ^ Originally part of the United Regional Basketball League.
- ^ As the MPBL side of the Zamboanga Valientes.
- ^ Also took part in the 2021 MPBL Invitational.
- ^ Although based in Davao Occidental, the team played all of its home games across Davao Region, but not within the province itself.
References Edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Henson, Joaquin (September 3, 2017). "MPBL won't compete with PBA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Chooks-to-Go MPBL officially turns pro". Tiebreaker Times. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Escarlote, Mark (August 12, 2023). "Pacquiao launching volleyball tournament". Daily Tribune Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nicolas, Jino (February 8, 2018). "Tanduay Athletics locked in for grassroots basketball". BusinessWorld. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "MPBL takes a hit for 'racist' rule limiting teams to only one Fil-foreign player". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "MPBL scraps limit on Fil-foreign players per team - for the time being". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Ulanday, John Bryan. "MPBL seals deal with sports betting firm, puts premium on integrity". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Kyt Jimenez posts historic quadruple double in Sarangani blowout win". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
- ^ "Quezon, Negros Musovados join MPBL as 5th season features 26 squads". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Viernes sets MPBL record 50 points in Sarangani's 2OT win". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Pacquiao puts spotlight on homegrown hoop talents in Junior MPBL". RAPPLER. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Pacquiao sets up Junior MPBL". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "Pacquiao-founded volleyball league to showcase homegrown talent". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Joble, Rey (April 10, 2018). "MPBL reaches Sweet 16 as Makati enters as latest expansion ball club". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "OKBet renews ties with MPBL, acquires rights to Makati Kings". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Reyes, Jonas Egan (April 4, 2018). "Pasig Pirates set to sail again". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved April 6, 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b "Quezon, Negros Musovados join MPBL as 5th season features 26 squads". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ Go, R.G. Antonet (December 29, 2018). "'Valientes' to be re-launched as Zambo Family's Brand Sardines". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- ^ Joble, Rey (December 26, 2021). "Davao Occidental leaves MPBL, named founding member of PSL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ Times, Tiebreaker (April 9, 2022). "MPBL partners with Cignal TV for fourth season". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "ABS-CBN S+A is broadcaster of Pacman's cage league". Manila Standard. January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.