| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 8 (since 2023) 22 (in 2021) |
| Current champions | Pampanga Giant Lanterns (2024) |
| Most championships | Three teams (1 title each) |
| TV partners | MPTV |
 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational | |
The MPBL Preseason Invitational is the preseason pocket tournament of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). The tournament was established in 2021, ahead of the 2022 MPBL season. The first edition of the tournament was simply called the MPBL Invitational.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to temporarily suspend league play on March 12, 2020, in the midst of its 2020 playoffs. The league also cancelled its plans to start its fourth season in June of that year and instead aimed for a return in June 2021, which also didn't push through. [1] [2]
As the league began its transition to professional status, it also looked to start an invitational tournament in December. [3] On November 16, 2021, during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, league commissioner Kenneth Duremdes formally announced the Invitational as the league settled on starting its fourth season in 2022. The tournament would also be supervised by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and monitored by FIBA. [4]
The 2021 MPBL Invitational went underway on December 11, 2021. It was the first event of the MPBL under professional status. [5] The entire tournament was held at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and fans were allowed in the arena at 50-percent capacity, though tickets were only provided to the participating teams to give to fans. [6] The inaugural tournament featured 22 teams and was won by Basilan Jumbo Plastic. [7]
The Invitational has since become the league's preseason tournament in the seasons that followed. The next two editions of the Invitational (2023 and 2024) took place at Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos. The tournament is now held every February to align with the city's Kalilangan Festival. This is also the only event in the league's calendar to feature guest teams. Since 2023, the GenSan Bulalakaw, a General Santos-based club, have become a regular competitors at the tournament. Now renamed as the MPBL Preseason Invitational, the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines won the 2023 edition while the Pampanga Giant Lanterns won the 2024 edition. [8] [9]
The format of the Preseason Invitational follows that of traditional FIBA tournaments. Since 2023, each tournament consists of eight teams that are divided into two groups of four teams. Each team plays one game against each team from within the same group. The top two teams advance to the single-elimination playoffs, where the top four positions are settled. [10]
The Preseason Invitational also features a prize pot, which is included in every tournament to date. In 2021, only the top three teams were given prize money. [11] This was changed in 2023 so that every team is given prize money. [12]
| Rank | 2021 [11] | 2023 [12] | 2024 [13] [9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ₱2,000,000 | ₱3,000,000 | ₱1,500,000 |
| 2nd | ₱500,000 | ||
| 3rd | ₱250,000 | ₱300,000 | |
| 4th | — | ₱200,000 | |
| 5th–8th | — | ₱100,000 | ₱125,000 |
A total of 28 teams have made an appearance in a Preseason Invitational tournament. Teams are listed under their current name.
| * | Guest team |
| † | Team has since departed the league |
| Year | City | Finalists | Semifinalists | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | Score | Runner-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | |||
| 2021 | Pasay | Basilan Jumbo Plastic | 83–80 (OT) | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors | 100–80 | Imus Buracai de Laiya | [7] |
| 2023 | General Santos | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | 88–80 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Imus SV Squad | 93–76 | Sarangani Marlins | [8] |
| 2024 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns | 93–75 | South Cotabato Warriors | Batangas City Athletics | 68–60 | Quezon City Toda Aksyon | [9] | |
Leomar S. Najorda is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan of the Pilipinas Super League. He was drafted ninth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA draft.
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The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines consisting of 29 teams.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, also known as Pampanga Giant Lanterns – AMG3 Construction for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Pampanga. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and play their home games at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando.
The Zamboanga Master Sardines, officially known as Master Sardines Zamboanga, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's South Division. They are the lone team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula region and play their home games at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Davao Occidental Tigers, also known as Davao Occidental Tigers – Cocolife due to sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Davao Occidental. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as a member of the league's South Division. They are the lone team based in the Davao Region.
The Zamboanga Valientes are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The team has competed in numerous leagues since its founding in 2006, and is currently competing in The Asian Tournament.
The 2022 MPBL season was the fourth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the first as a professional league. The regular season began on April 25, 2022 and ended on October 13, 2022. The playoffs then began on October 15, 2022 and ended on December 12, 2022, when the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards defeated the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines in four games in the 2022 MPBL finals. This season featured 22 teams, the first time the number of teams decreased from the previous season, as nine teams departed from the league.
The 2021 MPBL Invitational was the preseason tournament for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2022 season and what would become the first edition of the MPBL Preseason Invitational. The tournament began on December 11, 2021 and ended on December 23, 2021 when the Basilan Jumbo Plastic beat the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in overtime, 83–80. Philip Manalang, who hit the championship-winning buzzer beater for Basilan, was adjudged as the tournament Finals MVP.
The 2023 MPBL season was the fifth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the second as a professional league. The regular season began on March 11, 2023 and was originally scheduled to end on September 30, 2023, but got postponed to October 3, 2023. The playoffs began on October 6, 2023 and ended on December 2, 2023, when the Pampanga Giant Lanterns defeated the Bacoor City Strikers in three games in the 2023 MPBL finals. This season featured 29 teams, which included two expansion teams: the Negros Muscovados and the Quezon Huskers.
The 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational was the preseason pocket tournament for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2023 season and the second edition of the MPBL Preseason Invitational. The tournament began February 21, 2023 and ended with the final game on February 27, 2023 when the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines beat the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, 88–80. Dexter Maiquez was crowned the tournament's MVP.
Michael Vincent Galang Juico is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pangasinan Heatwaves of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 30th overall in the 2017 PBA draft by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Although he had a short PBA career, he has since won titles in other leagues, both in the amateur and professional level.
The 2024 MPBL season is the sixth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its third under professional status. The regular season began on April 6, 2024 and will end on September 30. The playoffs are expected to begin in October. This season features 29 teams, with two expansion teams making their debut: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.
The 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational was the preseason pocket tournament for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2024 season and the third edition of the MPBL Preseason Invitational. The tournament began on February 21, 2024 and ended with the final game on February 27, 2024. The Pampanga Giant Lanterns were the tournament champions after defeating the South Cotabato Warriors with a score of 93–75.
The 2022 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2022 Pasig City MCW Sports season was the third season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2023 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards season was the third season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
