Timeline of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 30 member teams as of 2025.
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: Founded in 1998 as the Pasig Blue Pirates of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
- Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire: Founded in 1998 as the SocSarGen Marlins of the MBA.
- 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).
- GenSan Warriors: Founded in 2005 as a member of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA).
- Zamboanga Sikat: Should one also consider the Zamboanga Valientes, whose MPBL side split from the team in 2019, the team's lineage can be dated back to 2006 as members of the MVBA and National Basketball Conference (NBC).
Amateur 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 | Departed after this season | Last active season |
2024 season: Northern Luzon expansion
This season featured 29 teams and marked the league's expansion to Northern Luzon with two expansion teams: 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 SV 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 | Last active season | Withdrew mid-season |
2025 season
The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team.[8] Basilan's team returned as the Basilan Viva Portmasters as well as Cebu's team with the Cebu Classic, both coming off three-season absences.[9][10] The Pasig City MPBL team also returned after taking a leave of absence last season. Three other teams left: the Bicolandia Oragons, Iloilo United Royals, and Negros Muscovados. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned back again to the South Division.
| Previous team name | New team name |
|---|---|
| Abra Weavers | Abra Solid North Weavers |
| Bacolod City of Smiles | Bacolod Tubo Slashers |
| Basilan Steel (2019–20) | Basilan Starhorse Basilan Viva Portmasters |
| Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol (2019–20) | Cebu Classic Cebu Greats |
| Imus Agimat | Imus Braderhood |
| Manila SV Batang Sampaloc | Manila Batang Quiapo |
| Marikina Shoemasters | Marikina Verdiamonds Jewellers Marikina Shoemasters (reverted) |
| Pasig City MCW Sports (2023) | Pasig City |
| Quezon City Toda Aksyon | Quezon City Galeries Taipan |
| Sarangani Marlins | Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire |
| South Cotabato Warriors | GenSan Warriors |
| Valenzuela Classic | Val City Magic |
| Zamboanga Master Sardines | Zamboanga Sikat |
| Joined this season | Returned this season |