The 2025 MPBL season is the seventh season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its fourth under professional status. The regular season began on March 8, 2025 with the opening ceremony at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela. The season will end in December with the 2025 MPBL finals.
This season features 30 teams. The league expanded to the Cagayan Valley region for the first time with the addition of the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys. Three teams (Basilan Viva Portmasters, Cebu Classic, and Pasig City) made their comebacks. This season will also see the introduction of the league’s play-in tournament to be held in between the regular season and playoffs.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns are two-time defending champions and reigning North Division champions, while the Quezon Huskers are the reigning South Division champions.[1][2]
This season will also mark the first of a new two-year title sponsorship deal with gambling company 1xbet.[3]
Format changes
Postseason changes
On February 2, 2025, the league announced a couple of changes to its playoff format, the biggest being the addition of a play-in tournament similar to the NBA's play-in round, which will be contested by teams ranked seventh through tenth in their respective divisions. The seventh and eighth-ranked teams will play for the seventh seed in the playoffs. The losing team will face the winner of the game between the ninth and tenth-ranked teams for the eighth seed and the final playoff spot. Due to this change, only the top six teams will directly advance to the playoffs.
In addition, the division finals is made a best-of-five series from the best-of-three series in previous seasons. These changes mark the first since the league expanded the playoffs to a 16-team pool due to the league's national expansion in 2019.[4]
Preseason Invitational cancellation
On January 22, the league announced that it will not host a Preseason Invitational tournament this season, so that the competing teams can focus on building their rosters. This will mark the first time in the professional era that the league will not host such a tournament.[5]
Teams
Teams were given until February 1 to submit their intent to compete, although some were given extensions.[5] This season, 30 teams will compete, one more than the 29 teams of the previous two seasons. This makes it the second-biggest team pool in league history, only behind the 2019–20 season, which had 31 teams compete. However, the final lineup of teams as well as the division alignment is currently unannounced.[6]
Expansions, returnees, and contractions
On January 16, commissioner Kenneth Duremdes announced that an expansion team based in Ilagan, Isabela will join the regional league this season.[7] The team, later named the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, was formally established on February 1, marking the first time the league has a team based in the Cagayan Valley region and will continue the expansion into Northern Luzon, following additions of the Pangasinan Heatwaves and the Abra Weavers last season.[8]
Three teams also made their return. After being absent in the last three seasons, the Basilan's MPBL team is set to return this season as the Basilan Viva Portmasters (initially the Basilan Starhorse), having competed in the 2019–20 season as the Basilan Steel, and as a guest team in the 2021 Preseason Invitational as the Basilan Jumbo Plastic.[9] Similarly, Cebu's MPBL team will also return for the first time since 2020, now known as the Cebu Classic.[10] The Pasig City MPBL team is the last team to make its return, after not competing in the previous season.
On the other hand, three teams made their depatures. The Bicolandia Oragons and Iloilo United Royals left the league after competing in three of the last four seasons while the Negros Muscovados depart after two seasons. This means that Bicol Region and Western Visayas won't have any representatives for their respective regions.
Realignment
The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys were placed in the North Division alongside Pasig City while the Basilan Viva Portmasters and Cebu Classic were placed in the South Division. To balance both divisions, the Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned back to the South, its fourth realignment in history and first since 2023.
Team name changes
| Previous team name | New team name |
|---|---|
| Abra Weavers | Abra Solid North Weavers |
| Basilan Steel (2019–20) | Basilan Starhorse Basilan Viva Portmasters |
| Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol (2019–20) | Cebu Classic |
| Imus Agimat | Imus Braderhood |
| Manila SV Batang Sampaloc | Manila Batang Quiapo |
| Marikina Shoemasters | Marikina Verdiamonds Jewellers |
| 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 |
Transactions
Player transactions
- Rookie signings
- The Abra Solid North Weavers signed CJ Austria and Joshua David (De La Salle), Jack Cruz-Dumont (UE), and Filipino-foreigner Kascius Small-Martin (Brock).[11][12]
- Free agent signings
- The Abra Solid North Weavers signed two-time all-star and former All-MPBL Team selection Leo Najorda. He last played for the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan of the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) in 2023.[13]
- The Pangasinan Heatwaves signed 2018 PBA Mr. Quality Minutes Vic Manuel. He last played for the Terrafirma Dyip of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in 2025.[14]
- The Sarangani Marlins signed two-time all-star and 2022 Rookie of the Year Kyt Jimenez. He last played for the San Miguel Beermen of the PBA in 2024. Notably, Jimenez also recorded the elusive quadruple-double while playing for Sarangani in 2022.[15]
- Transfers
- The Abra Solid North Weavers signed all-star Encho Serrano from the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.[16]
- The Basilan Starhorse signed two-time All-Star Game MVP Jeff Viernes (from Pampanga) alongside fellow all-stars Rabeh Al-Hussaini (from Manila) and Emman Calo (from Nueva Ecija).[17] Basilan also signed PBA great Arwind Santos from the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.[18]
- The Cebu Classic signed two-time all-star Paulo Hubalde from the Valenzuela Classic.[19]
- The Ilagan Isabela Cowboys signed former Finals MVP and Ilagan native Val Acuña from the South Cotabato Warriors.[20]
- The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards signed the Marcelino twins, Jaycee and Jayvee, from the Zamboanga Master Sardines. The former won Most Valuable Player in 2022 and was selected to three All-MPBL First Teams while with Zamboanga.[21]
- Departures
- Two-time season MVP and two-time finals MVP Justine Baltazar departed the league after two seasons, both with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, to sign with the Converge FiberXers of the PBA.[22]
Coaching changes
| Team | Departing coach | Incoming coach |
|---|---|---|
| Basilan Starhorse | — | Mac Tan |
| Ilagan Isabela Cowboys | — | Louie Gonzalez |
| Mindoro Tamaraws | JR Cawaling | Rodney Santos |
Venues
- New venues for this season are indicated with bold text.
Regular venues
| Abra Solid North Weavers | Bataan Risers | Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters | Biñan Tatak Gel |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Abra (Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium) Bangued, Abra |
Bataan People's Center Balanga, Bataan |
Batangas City Coliseum Batangas City, Batangas |
Alonte Sports Arena Biñan, Laguna |
| Capacity: N/A | Capacity: 4,000 | Capacity: 4,000 | Capacity: 6,500 |
|
|
|
|
| Caloocan Batang Kankaloo | Ilagan Isabela Cowboys | Manila Batang Quiapo | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caloocan Sports Complex Caloocan |
Capital Arena[8] Ilagan, Isabela |
San Andres Sports Complex Manila |
Nueva Ecija Coliseum Palayan, Nueva Ecija |
| Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 3,000 |
|
|
|
|
| Pangasinan Heatwaves | Pasay Voyagers | Quezon Huskers | Rizal Golden Coolers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert B. Estrella Sr. Memorial Stadium[15] Rosales, Pangasinan |
Cuneta Astrodome Pasay |
Quezon Convention Center Lucena |
Ynares Center Antipolo, Rizal |
| Capacity: N/A | Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 7,000 | Capacity: 7,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
| San Juan Knights |
|---|
| Filoil EcoOil Centre San Juan |
| Capacity: 6,000 |
|
Other venues
| Neutral venues |
|---|
| Ynares Sports Arena Pasig |
| Capacity: 3,000 |
|
Regular season
Opening ceremony
The regular season will begin on March 8, 2025. As has been the case since 2023, the season opener and opening ceremony will be hosted by an expansion team from the current season, this time being the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.[7] The opening doubleheader will feature the Biñan Tatak Gel and the Abra Weavers in the first game, followed by the Sarangani Marlins and the home team Cowboys in the second game.[15]
Format
Similar to previous seasons, all participating teams will play in a single round-robin tournament for the regular season, playing one game against every other team. This season, the league's 30 teams will each play 29 games. In each gameday, a series of games is played in a designated home arena, with the home team usually playing in the final game.
Under the new postseason format, the top six teams in each division will advance directly to the 2025 MPBL playoffs, while teams ranked seventh through tenth will compete in a play-in tournament for the final two spots.[4]
Standings
|
Updated to match(es) played on March 8, 2025. Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss. Notes:
|
Results table
| Team | Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |
| Abra (ABR) | BIÑ 69–60 | MAR Mar. 14 | PSY Mar. 19 | BUL Mar. 24 | GS (H) Mar. 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bacolod (BCD) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basilan (BAS) | RZL Mar. 11 | NE (A) Mar. 15 | VAL Mar. 20 | BTG (A) Mar. 26 | SJ (A) Mar. 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bataan (BAN) | PGS (A) Mar. 10 | GS (H) Mar. 17 | CEB Mar. 20 | CAL Mar. 25 | BTG Mar. 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batangas City (BTG) | QZN (H) Mar. 12 | IMS Mar. 18 | RZL (A) Mar. 21 | BAS (H) Mar. 26 | BAN Mar. 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biñan (BIÑ) | ABR 60–69 | MDR (H) Mar. 14 | PGS (H) Mar. 19 | QZN (A) Mar. 22 | ILA (H) Mar. 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bulacan (BUL) | QC Mar. 11 | PGS Mar. 14 | ILA Mar. 19 | ABR Mar. 24 | ZAM Mar. 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caloocan (CAL) | CEB Mar. 13 | MDR (H) Mar. 18 | BAN Mar. 25 | PSY (H) Mar. 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cebu (CEB) | CAL Mar. 13 | QZN Mar. 17 | BAN Mar. 20 | SJ Mar. 24 | MNL Mar. 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Davao Occidental (DVO) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Santos (GS) | SAR Mar. 12 | BAN (A) Mar. 17 | PAM Mar. 21 | ABR (A) Mar. 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ilagan Isabela (ILA) | SAR (H) 74–54 | PSY (A) Mar. 13 | BUL Mar. 19 | PGS Mar. 22 | BIÑ (A) Mar. 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Imus (IMS) | MDR Mar. 10 | PAM Mar. 13 | BTG Mar. 18 | ZAM Mar. 22 | QC Mar. 26 | SAR Mar. 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manila (MNL) | MAR Mar. 11 | RZL Mar. 15 | NE (H) Mar. 20 | NE (A) Mar. 25 | CEB Mar. 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marikina (MAR) | MNL Mar. 11 | ABR Mar. 14 | PAM Mar. 18 | VAL Mar. 25 | QZN Mar. 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mindoro (MDR) | IMS Mar. 10 | BIÑ (A) Mar. 14 | CAL (A) Mar. 18 | NE (A) Mar. 24 | SJ Mar. 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Muntinlupa (MUN) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nueva Ecija (NE) | PSY Mar. 10 | BAS (H) Mar. 15 | MNL (A) Mar. 20 | MDR (H) Mar. 24 | VAL Mar. 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pampanga (PAM) | IMS Mar. 13 | MAR Mar. 18 | GS Mar. 21 | PGS Mar. 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pangasinan (PGS) | BAN (H) Mar. 10 | BUL Mar. 14 | BIÑ (A) Mar. 19 | ILA Mar. 22 | PAM Mar. 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parañaque (PAR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pasay (PSY) | NE Mar. 10 | ILA (H) Mar. 13 | ABR Mar. 19 | MNL (H) Mar. 25 | CAL (A) Mar. 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pasig City (PSG) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quezon (QZN) | BTG (A) Mar. 12 | CEB Mar. 17 | BIÑ (H) Mar. 22 | MAR Mar. 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quezon City (QC) | BUL Mar. 11 | VAL Mar. 15 | SAR Mar. 21 | IMS Mar. 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rizal (RZL) | BAS Mar. 11 | MNL Mar. 15 | BTG (H) Mar. 21 | SAR Mar. 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Juan (SJ) | CEB Mar. 24 | MDR Mar. 27 | BAS (H) Mar. 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sarangani (SAR) | ILA (A) 54–74 | GS Mar. 12 | ZAM Mar. 17 | QC Mar. 21 | RZL Mar. 26 | IMS Mar. 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valenzuela (VAL) | ZAM Mar. 12 | QC Mar. 15 | BAS Mar. 20 | MAR Mar. 25 | NE Mar. 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zamboanga (ZAM) | VAL Mar. 12 | SAR Mar. 17 | IMS Mar. 22 | BUL Mar. 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend: Blue = win; Red = loss
- Notes
- Any game details are subject to change. The full schedule is revealed over time as the season progresses.
- Games that are played home or away are indicated by the superscript after the opposing team's abbreviation (H for home and A for away). Games with no superscript are neutral-site.
Home-and-away records
- Notes
Junior MPBL tournaments
The third season of the MPBL's youth league, the Junior MPBL, is expected to begin in April 2025.[23][24]
Media
This season will be the first of a new television deal with Solar Entertainment Corporation, succeeding Cignal TV, which was the league's television partner from 2022 to 2024. Solar airs a selection of "over 200 games" on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on its Solar Sports channel throughout the season. The league continues to broadcast all games on its social media platforms.[25][6]
References
- ^ "Pampanga sweeps Quezon to claim back-to-back MPBL championships". Spin.ph. December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Pampanga pulls off back-to-back MPBL title romp over Quezon". RAPPLER. December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "MPBL partners with sports betting firm". www.philstar.com. February 27, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Play-ins, best-of-five division finals key MPBL format changes". Philstar.com. February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ a b "MPBL cancels preseason tourney". Philstar.com. January 22, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "MPBL, Solar Sports seal broadcast deal". Daily Tribune. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "Ilagan City newest MPBL team when Season 7 opens on March 8". Spin.ph. January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Louie Gonzalez finds new home as Ilagan Isabela Cowboys join MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Badua, Snow (November 27, 2024). "Basilan team making an MPBL comeback after two-year hiatus". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Badua, Snow (February 12, 2025). "Greg Slaughter eyed as cornerstone of new Cebu team in MPBL". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Li, Matthew (February 6, 2025). "CJ leaves La Salle, embarks on pro career with Abra". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ Ganglani, Naveen (January 23, 2025). "La Salle's David Joins Abra Weavers in MPBL, Eyes PBA Future". ALL-STAR. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Abra has title aspirations in upcoming MPBL Season 7". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ "Pangasinan Heatwaves boost front court, ready for MPBL wars". Philstar.com. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Debuting Ilagan Isabela, retooled Abra raise curtains on MPBL season". Spin.ph. February 21, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (January 24, 2025). "Encho Serrano nixes PBA return to sign with Abra Weavers". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Starhorse-Basilan eyes big, memorable MPBL comeback". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "NEW CHAPTER. SAME HEART". Starhorse Basilan. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Facebook.
Welcome to Starhorse Basilan family, ARWIND!
- ^ Villaruel, Emmanuel B. (February 17, 2025). "Cebu mobalik sa MPBL, Slaughter maoy mangu" [Cebu returns to MPBL, Slaughter to lead]. Philstar.com (in Cebuano). Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ Joble, Rey (February 8, 2025). "The Ilagan City Cowboys are coming". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Welcome to Nueva Ecija, Marcelino Twins!". Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards. December 5, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Facebook.
- ^ Dioquino, Delfin (December 11, 2024). "Top pick Justine Baltazar nears PBA debut after signing with Converge". Rappler. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Dongiapon, Ron Andrew (January 30, 2025). "Pacquiao's Junior MPBL expands with more teams in Season 3 return". RAPPLER. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "Junior MPBL Season 3 set for April opener". Spin.ph. January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ Maragay, Dino (March 4, 2025). "MPBL, Pacquiao find familiar home on television". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
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