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:
- Pasig City MCW Sports (inactive): Founded in 1998 as the Pasig Blue Pirates of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
- Sarangani Marlins: Founded in 1998 as the SocSarGen Marlins of the MBA; oldest active team to date.
- San Juan Knights: Founded in 1999 as a member of the MBA.
- Quezon Huskers: Founded in 2004 as the Quezon Coco Huskers of the United Regional Basketball League (URBL).
- South Cotabato Warriors: Founded in 2005 as the GenSan Warriors of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MPVA).
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.
| 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 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 |
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.
| 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 |
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.
| 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. |
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]
| 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 |
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 |
2025 season
The Basilan MPBL team are set to return this season.[8]
References
- ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opens next joust June 12". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Luarca, Roy. "Negros Muscuvados fielding homegrown talents in MPBL". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Quezon, Negros Musovados join MPBL as 5th season features 26 squads". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "MPBL welcomes unlimited pros, expands with two new franchises". Tiebreaker Times. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Sayson, Homer D. (April 18, 2024). "MPBL expels expansion team Tarlac for 'unfulfilled financial obligations'". Spin.ph. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Badua, Snow (November 27, 2024). "Basilan team making an MPBL comeback after two-year hiatus". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
