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The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines that was founded in 2017 and began play in 2018. As of 2024, there have been eight teams that are no longer active members.
List of former teams
editBasilan Steel
editThe Basilan Steel joined the league in the 2018–19 season and last played in the following 2019–20 season. In the latter season, Basilan made the division finals where they would end up tying the Davao Occidental Tigers in the best-of-three series. As the league resumed play on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Steel were the only team to not fully recover from the virus, causing the league to rule Basilan out of the playoffs' resumption.[1] Basilan then moved on from the MPBL and join the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.[2]
Basilan still made an appearance later on, in the inaugural Preseason Invitational in 2021, where they would end up winning the tournament. To date, the Basilan franchise remains the only such based in Bangsamoro.
Bacoor City Strikers
editJoining as Cavite's second team, the Bacoor City Strikers' tenure in the MPBL lasted for four seasons from 2018–19 to 2023. The Strikers made the playoffs in every season they took part in, including a run to the 2023 MPBL finals, where the team was swept by the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.[3]
Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol
editFirst going by the name Cebu City Sharks, Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol joined the league in the 2018–19 season and last took part in the 2019–20 season. The team made the playoffs in 2019 as the eighth seed, losing to the Davao Occidental Tigers in a sweep. In the lead-up to the 2023 season, Cebu was listed among the returning teams for that season, yet their return did not materialize with no reason given.[4]
The Cebu-based franchise is the only such, current and former, to be based in the Central Visayas region.
Makati OKBet Kings
editDuring Makati's four-year run, the team has been consistent contenders in the league, going top-three in the North Division in all but the 2022 season. Despite that, the team has never made a Finals appearance. In 2020, Makati made the division finals against San Juan Knights, however, the COVID-19 pandemic brought financial trouble to the franchise, causing contract issues with key players. Makati would lose to San Juan in game 3 by a 77-point margin.[5] The last went by the Makati OKBet Kings in 2023, where they would be upset by San Juan in the division quarterfinals.[6]
Mandaluyong El Tigre
editThe Mandaluyong El Tigre is the first team to go inactive as well as the league's shortest-tenured, having only taken part in one season: the 2018–19 season. That season, Mandaluyong finished 8–17, ranked 11th in the North Division, and missing the playoffs. The Mandaluyong franchise is noted for acquiring Bobby Ray Parks Jr., who won the ASEAN Basketball League Finals MVP in 2018 right before joining the MPBL.[7]
Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines
editThe Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines are the only founding member in this list, as Navotas Clutch. Navotas made the playoffs twice in 2018 and in 2019, but didn't make past the first round of either. Navotas' tenure in the league lasted for three seasons, ending with the 2019–20 season.
Pasig City MCW Sports
editThe team joined as the Pasig Pirates, making them the second incarnation of the former team that played in the Metropolitan Basketball Association. It also makes them the oldest MPBL team that isn't active. Despite a rough 2018–19 campaign that saw the team finish with the worst record that season, the team has made the playoffs in the three seasons since. Their best season came in 2022 when they clinched the second-seed in the North Division, but feel short against the San Juan Knights in the division semifinals. The team last took on the moniker of Pasig City MCW Sports.[8]
Tarlac United Force
editThe Tarlac United Force is a special case, as they didn't take part in league play. The team was set to compete in the 2024 season as an expansion team, but due to financial concerns, the league pulled them out on April 16. Still, the league mentioned the province of Tarlac as a potential expansion location, which could pave the way for their re-establishment.[9]
Records
edit| Team | Seasons | First season | Last season | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Won | Lost | PCT | App. | GP | Won | Lost | PCT | ||||
| Bacoor City Strikers | 4 | 2018–19 | 2023 | 104 | 69 | 35 | .663 | 4 | 22 | 12 | 10 | .545 |
| Basilan Steel | 2 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 55 | 27 | 28 | .491 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 |
| Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol | 2 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 55 | 26 | 29 | .473 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Makati OKBet Kings | 4 | 2018–19 | 2023 | 104 | 66 | 38 | .635 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Mandaluyong El Tigre | 1 | 2018–19 | 25 | 8 | 17 | .320 | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines | 3 | 2018 | 2019–20 | 63 | 24 | 39 | .381 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 |
| Pasig City MCW Sports | 4 | 2018–19 | 2023 | 104 | 55 | 49 | .529 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 |
| Tarlac United Force | 0 | 2024 (withdrew) | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
References
edit- ^ Valencia, Justine. "Basilan Steel say DQ ruling by MPBL 'unfair'". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Li, Matthew (March 29, 2021). "Basilan goes pro in VisMin, changes name to Peace Riders". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Pampanga sweeps Bacoor to win MPBL title on the road". Philippine Star. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "MPBL welcomes Quezon Province, Negros Muscovados". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Li, Matthew (March 10, 2021). "Makati Super Crunch owner says pandemic forced him to cut contracts". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (February 17, 2023). "OKBet renews ties with MPBL, acquires rights to Makati Kings". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Parks, Rivero banner Mandaluyong in MPBL debut; actor Anderson leads Marikina". Spin.ph. May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- ^ "MCW Sports inks sponsorship deal with Pasig City Basketball team". MCW Sports Philippines. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Sayson, Homer D. (April 18, 2024). "MPBL expels expansion team Tarlac for 'unfulfilled financial obligations'". Spin.ph. Retrieved April 20, 2024.