The Pangasinan Heatwaves[1] are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Pangasinan. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. The team splits its home games between Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao and Robert B. Estrella Sr. Memorial Stadium in Rosales.[2][3]
The team began play in the 2024 MPBL season as part of the league's Northern Luzon expansion. They also compete in the Pilipinas Super League under the name Pangasinan Abono Reapers.
The Heatwaves are the lone team based in the Ilocos Region and are one of two teams based in Northern Luzon, the other team being the Abra Solid North Weavers.
History
Background and founding
The province of Pangasinan has previously been involved in professional basketball in the country. For three seasons, the Pangasinan Presidents/Waves took part in the Metropolitan Basketball Association. The province also hosted the PBA All-Star Weekend in 2019, which was held at the Calasiao Sports Complex.[4]
The team was first announced on January 17, 2024, when Alaminos mayor Bryan Celeste posted a tryout for the Pangasinan-based team.[5] On February 7, 2024, the team formally signed as expansion team and was initially named the Pangasinan Heat. They are one of two expansion teams admitted for the MPBL's 2024 season, the other being the Abra Weavers.[2] Former Bayambang mayor Cezar Quiambao was named as team owner.[3] Jerson Cabiltes took on the role of head coach for their inaugural season coming off a two-year stint with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards franchise. Cabiltes' presence also brought in players from the Rice Vanguards, such as Hesed Gabo and Michael Mabulac to go alongside ex-PBA cagers Ed Daquioag and Dennice Villamor.[6]
First season
Their first game was played on April 6, 2024 as part of the season's opening gameday. In their inaugural game, the Heatwaves lost at home in an expansion battle against the Abra Weavers.[7][8] Their first franchise win came on April 17 against the Bulacan Kuyas at Paco Arena while their first home win was achieved on April 27 against the Marikina Shoemasters.
Team identity
According to Quiambao, the name references the province's solar power supply and its aim to become the country's "Solar Capital".[9][3]
Home venues
In 2024, the Heatwaves played all of their home games at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, including that season's opening day. In 2025, the team began playing at Robert B. Estrella Sr. Memorial Stadium in Rosales.
| Venue | Location | Capacity | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calasiao Sports Complex | Calasiao, Pangasinan | 3,000 | 
|
TBA |
| Robert B. Estrella Sr. Memorial Stadium | Rosales, Pangasinan | N/A | 
|
|
Personnel
Current roster
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated as of: March 4, 2025 |
Head coaches
| Pangasinan Heatwaves head coaches | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Start | End | Achievements | Ref. |
| 1 | Jerson Cabiltes | 2024 | current | — | |
Notable players
MPBL All-Star Day
|
PBA players
Season-by-season records
| League champions | |
| Division champions | |
| Qualified for playoffs | |
| Best regular season record |
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | GB | Stage | Results | |
| Pangasinan Heatwaves | |||||||||
| 2024 | North | 11th | 28 | 12 | 16 | .429 | 14 | Did not qualify | |
| 2025 | TBA | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||
| All-time regular season record | 28 | 12 | 16 | .429 | 0 playoff appearances | ||||
| All-time playoff record | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 finals appearances | ||||
| All-time overall record | 28 | 12 | 16 | .429 | 0 championships | ||||
Pilipinas Super League
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | GB | Stage | Results | ||
| Pangasinan Abono Reapers | |||||||||
| 2024–25 President's Cup |
4th | 10 | 8 | 2 | .800 | 1 | Quarterfinals 1 Quarterfinals 2 Semifinals |
won vs. Pureblends, 1–0 won vs. Biñan, 1–0 lost vs. Caloocan, 1–2 | |
| All-time regular season record | 10 | 8 | 2 | .800 | 1 playoff appearance | ||||
| All-time playoff record | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 0 finals appearances | ||||
| All-time overall record | 15 | 11 | 4 | .733 | 0 championships | ||||
References
- ^ "OFFICIAL FB PAGE OF MPBL PANGASINAN HEATWAVES". Pangasinan Heatwaves. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ a b "MPBL welcomes unlimited pros, expands with two new franchises". Tiebreaker Times. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Pangasinan eyes to bring the heat to MPBL". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "North-South rivalry returns at the PBA All-Star game". PBA.ph. March 30, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Celeste, Bryan (January 17, 2024). "Calling all aspiring basketball players for Team Pangasinan in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2024?!" – via Facebook.
- ^ "MPBL: Pangasinan, Abra eye impact; Tarlac keeps buildup under wraps". Philstar.com. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "MPBL Sixth Season unwraps Saturday". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Abra stuns Pangasinan, Zamboanga trips Valenzuela in MPBL inaugurals". Manila Bulletin. April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Austria, Hilda (February 7, 2024). "Pangasinan to join Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's next season". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
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