Timeline of the MPBL

The following is a timeline of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its member teams. Founded in 2017 and later beginning play in 2018, the league currently features 29 member teams as of 2024.

Timeline


Pre-MPBL history (1998–2011)

Some teams predate the MPBL's establishment in 2017, particularly with the former incarnations of those teams. These include:

Semi-professional era (2018–2020)

2018 season: First season

The league was established in 2017 and began its inaugural season in January 2018. This season featured ten teams, all of which are based in Luzon.

2018 MPBL teams
Bataan Defenders Muntinlupa Cagers
Batangas City Athletics Navotas Clutch
Bulacan Kuyas Parañaque Patriots
Caloocan Supremos Quezon City Capitals
Imus Bandera Valenzuela Classic

2018–19 season: National expansion

This season featured 26 teams, with all ten charter teams returning while the league added sixteen expansion teams. With the league marking its national expansion, the teams were split into two geographical divisions: the North and South Divisions.[1] Mid-season, the MPBL side of the Zamboanga Valientes split to become the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines.[2]

2018–19 name changes
2018 team name 2018–19 team name(s)
Bataan Defenders Bataan Risers
Makati Skyscrapers* Makati Super Crunch
Valenzuela Classic Valenzuela Idol Cheesedogs
Valenzuela Classic (reverted)
(*) Expansion team
Joined this season Joined and departed this season, last active season
2018–19 MPBL teams
North South
Bataan Risers Pampanga Lanterns Bacoor City Strikers Laguna Heroes
Bulacan Kuyas Pasay Voyagers Basilan Steel Marikina Shoemasters
Caloocan Supremos Pasig Pirates Batangas City Athletics Muntinlupa Cagers
Makati Super Crunch Quezon City Capitals Cebu City Sharks Parañaque Patriots
Mandaluyong El Tigre San Juan Knights Davao Occidental Tigers Rizal Crusaders
Manila Stars Valenzuela Classic GenSan Warriors Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
Navotas Clutch Imus Bandera

2019–20 season

This season featured 31 teams, which is the biggest the league has ever gotten. Six expansion teams were admitted into the league: Bacolod Master Sardines, Bicol Volcanoes, Iloilo United Royals, Mindoro Tamaraws, Nueva Ecija MiGuard, and Soccsksargen Marlins. One team, the Mandaluyong El Tigre became the first team to depart from the league. The league also did its first realignment with the Marikina Shoemasters, Parañaque Patriots, and Rizal Golden Coolers moving to the North Division.

2019–20 name changes
2018–19 team name 2019–20 team name(s)
Cebu City Sharks Cebu Sharks
Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol
Imus Bandera Imus Khaleb Shawarma
Imus Bandera (reverted)
Laguna Heroes Biñan City Heroes
Biñan City Luxxe White
Navotas Clutch Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines
Nueva Ecija MiGuard* Nueva Ecija ForestLake
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
Pampanga Lanterns Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Pasig Pirates Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors
Rizal Crusaders Rizal Golden Coolers
Soccsksargen Marlins* Sarangani Marlins
Valenzuela Classic Valenzuela SPV TOP Marketplace
Val City Carga Backload Solution
(*) Expansion team
Joined this season Joined and departed this season Departed after this season Last active season
2019–20 MPBL teams
North South
Bataan Risers Pampanga Giant Lanterns Bacolod Master Sardines GenSan Warriors
Bulacan Kuyas Parañaque Patriots Bacoor City Strikers Iloilo United Royals
Caloocan Supremos Pasay Voyagers Basilan Steel Imus Bandera
Makati Super Crunch Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors Batangas City Athletics Mindoro Tamaraws
Manila Stars Quezon City Capitals Bicol Volcanoes Muntinlupa Cagers
Marikina Shoemasters Rizal Golden Coolers Biñan City Luxxe White Sarangani Marlins
Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines San Juan Knights Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Val City Carga Backload Solution Davao Occidental Tigers

Professional era (2022–present)

2022 season

This season featured 22 teams after nine teams from the previous season all departed from the league, marking the first time the league contracted in size. This season would have seen the full-time debut of the Negros Muscovados, but was postponed to the following season.[3] The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned back to the South Division.

2022 name changes
2019–20 team name 2022 team name(s)
Bacolod Master Sardines Bacolod Bingo Plus
Batangas City Athletics Batangas City Embassy Chill
Biñan City Luxxe White Laguna Heroes
Caloocan Supremos Caloocan Excellence
Imus Bandera Imus City Bandera
Makati Super Crunch Makati × MNL Kingpin
Mindoro Tamaraws Mindoro Tams
Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors Pasig City
Pasig City MCW Sports
Quezon City Capitals Quezon City MG
Val City Carga Backload Solution Valenzuela MJAS Zenith
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.
2022 MPBL teams
North South
Bataan Risers Pampanga Giant Lanterns Bacolod Bingo Plus Mindoro Tams
Caloocan Excellence Pasig City MCW Sports Bacoor City Strikers Muntinlupa Cagers
Makati × MNL Kingpin Quezon City MG Batangas City Embassy Chill Rizal Golden Coolers
Manila Stars San Juan Knights GenSan Warriors Sarangani Marlins
Marikina Shoemasters Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. Imus City Bandera Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Laguna Heroes

2023 season

This season featured 29 teams. Two expansion teams joined the league: the Negros Muscovados and the Quezon Huskers.[4] Five teams also made their return: the Bulacan Kuyas, Bicol Volcanoes, Iloilo United Royals, Parañaque Patriots, and Pasay Voyagers. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned for the third straight season, moving back to the North Division.[5]

2023 name changes
2022 team name 2023 team name(s)
Bacolod Bingo Plus Bacolod City of Smiles
Caloocan Excellence Caloocan Batang Kankaloo
Imus City Bandera Imus SV Squad
Laguna Heroes Laguna Krah Asia
Makati × MNL Kingpin Makati OKBet Kings
Mindoro Tams Oriental Mindoro Disiplinados
Mindoro Disiplinados
Quezon City MG Quezon City Gaz N Go
Quezon City Toda Aksyon
Joined this season Returned this season Last active season
2023 MPBL teams
North South
Bataan Risers Parañaque Patriots Bacolod City of Smiles Laguna Krah Asia
Bulacan Kuyas Pasay Voyagers Bacoor City Strikers Mindoro Disiplinados
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Pasig City MCW Sports Batangas City Embassy Chill Muntinlupa Cagers
Makati OKBet Kings Quezon City Toda Aksyon Bicol Volcanoes Negros Muscovados
Manila Stars Rizal Golden Coolers GenSan Warriors Quezon Huskers
Marikina Shoemasters San Juan Knights Iloilo United Royals Sarangani Marlins
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. Imus SV Squad Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
Pampanga Giant Lanterns

2024 season

This season featured 29 teams. Two expansion teams were admitted into the league, both from Northern Luzon: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.[6] A third expansion team, the Tarlac United Force, withdrew due to financial concerns.[7] The Davao Occidental Tigers made their return after being absent the past two seasons while three teams departed from the league: the Bacoor City Strikers, Makati OKBet Kings, and Pasig City MCW Sports. The Parañaque Patriots were realigned back to the South Division.

2023 team name 2024 team name(s)
Batangas City Embassy Chill Batangas City Athletics (Invitational only)
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters
Bicol Volcanoes Bicolandia Oragons
GenSan Warriors South Cotabato Warriors
Imus SV Squad Imus Agimat
Laguna Krah Asia Biñan Tatak Gel
Manila Stars Manila Batang Sampaloc
Mindoro Disiplinados Mindoro Tamaraws
Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. Valenzuela Classic
Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Zamboanga Master Sardines
Joined this season Returned this season Withdrew mid-season
2024 MPBL teams
North South
Abra Weavers Pangasinan Heatwaves Bacolod City of Smiles Muntinlupa Cagers
Bataan Risers Pasay Voyagers Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters Negros Muscovados
Bulacan Kuyas Quezon City Toda Aksyon Bicolandia Oragons Parañaque Patriots
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Rizal Golden Coolers Biñan Tatak Gel Quezon Huskers
Manila Batang Sampaloc San Juan Knights Davao Occidental Tigers Sarangani Marlins
Marikina Shoemasters Tarlac United Force Iloilo United Royals South Cotabato Warriors
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Valenzuela Classic Imus Agimat Zamboanga Master Sardines
Pampanga Giant Lanterns Mindoro Tamaraws

2025 season

After a two-season absence, the Basilan MPBL team are set to return this season as the Basilan Starhorse.[8]

2024 team name 2025 team name
Bacolod City of Smiles Bacolod Fyr Fyter
Basilan Steel (2019–20) Basilan Starhorse

References

  1. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opens next joust June 12". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Luarca, Roy. "Negros Muscuvados fielding homegrown talents in MPBL". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "Quezon, Negros Musovados join MPBL as 5th season features 26 squads". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "MPBL welcomes unlimited pros, expands with two new franchises". Tiebreaker Times. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Sayson, Homer D. (April 18, 2024). "MPBL expels expansion team Tarlac for 'unfulfilled financial obligations'". Spin.ph. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Badua, Snow (November 27, 2024). "Basilan team making an MPBL comeback after two-year hiatus". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2024.