The MPBL finals is the championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League held at the conclusion of the league's postseason. Since its inception, the national finals is a best-of-five series. Since the 2019 edition, it is contested between the champions of the North Division and the South Division. The finals is structured in a 2–2–1 format, where the team with the better regular season record is given homecourt advantage and hosts games 1, 2, and 5.
Five different teams have won the national championship with neither winning more than once. Since the introduction of divisions, three teams did so as a member of the North Division, while one did so as a member of the South Division.
Champions
editSeason
editThe first parenthesis indicate the teams' playoff seed within their division. The second parenthesis indicate the number of times that team has appeared in the MPBL finals, as well as each respective teams' MPBL finals record up to date.
| North Division champion | South Division champion |
| Year | Winning team | Coach | Series | Losing team | Coach | Finals MVP | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Rajah Cup |
Batangas City Athletics (1) (1, 1–0) |
Mac Tan | 3–1 | Muntinlupa Cagers (3) (1, 0–1) |
Aldrin Morante | Val Acuña | [1][2] |
| 2019 Datu Cup |
San Juan Knights (3) (1, 1–0) |
Randy Alcantara | 3–2 | Davao Occidental Tigers (1) (1, 0–1) |
Don Dulay | Mike Ayonayon | [3] |
| 2021[a] Lakan Season |
Davao Occidental Tigers (1) (2, 1–1) |
Don Dulay | 3–1 | San Juan Knights (1) (2, 1–1) |
Randy Alcantara | Mark Yee | [4] |
| 2022 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (1) (1, 1–0) |
Jerson Cabiltes | 3–1 | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (1) (1, 0–1) |
Vic Ycasiano | Byron Villarias | [5] |
| 2023 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns (1) (1, 1–0) |
Dennis Pineda | 3–0 | Bacoor City Strikers (1) (1, 0–1) |
Alex Angeles | Justine Baltazar | [6] |
| 2024 | To be determined between Pampanga Giant Lanterns or Quezon Huskers | ||||||
- Notes
- ^ Postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preseason Invitational
editThe league's annual Preseason Invitational culminates in a single game to determine the champion of the tournament.
| Year | Winning team | Coach | Score | Losing team | Coach | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Basilan Jumbo Plastic (1, 1–0) |
Jerson Cabiltes | 83–80 (OT) | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (1, 0–1) |
Carlo Tan | [7] |
| 2023 | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (1, 1–0) |
Vic Ycasiano | 88–80 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (2, 0–2) |
Jerson Cabiltes | [8] |
| 2024 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns (1, 1–0) |
Dennis Pineda | 93–75 | South Cotabato Warriors (1, 0–1) |
Elvis Tolentino | [9] |
Results by franchise
edit| † | Team has since departed the league |
Season
edit| Team | W | L | Apps. | PCT | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davao Occidental | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 2021 | 2019 |
| San Juan | 1 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 2019 | 2021 |
| Batangas City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2018 | – |
| Nueva Ecija | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2022 | – |
| Pampanga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2023 | – |
| Muntinlupa | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | – | 2018 |
| Zamboanga | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | – | 2022 |
| Bacoor City† | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | – | 2023 |
Preseason Invitational
edit| Team | W | L | Apps. | PCT | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilan† | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2021 | – |
| Zamboanga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2023 | – |
| Pampanga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 2024 | – |
| Nueva Ecija | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | – | 2021, 2023 |
| South Cotabato | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | – | 2024 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Batangas holds off Muntinlupa to win inaugural MPBL championship". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ Bulletin, The Manila. "MPBL: Batangas wins inaugural crown » Manila Bulletin Sports". sports.mb.com.ph. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
- ^ "San Juan Knights go for jugular in MPBL finals". BusinessWorld. April 21, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Davao rides big Yee trey in OT to stun San Juan, lift MPBL title". spin.ph. March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Nueva Ecija finishes off Zamboanga in Game 4 to lift MPBL trophy". spin.ph. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ "Pampanga sweeps Bacoor to win MPBL title on the road". Philippine Star. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Leongson, Randolph (December 24, 2021). "Manalang trey at the buzzer lifts Basilan past N Ecija in MPBL Finals". spin.ph. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Zamboanga rules MPBL Preseason Cup". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Baltazar, Serrano lead Pampanga to MPBL Preseason crown". Tiebreaker Times. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-28.