2025 MPBL season
| 2025 MPBL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | Regular season: begins March 8, 2025 |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Finals | |
The 2025 MPBL season is the upcoming seventh season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its fourth under professional status. The regular season will begin on March 8, 2025.[1]
The league will expand to the Cagayan Valley region for the first time with the addition of Ilagan City while Basilan confirmed its intent to return this season as the Basilan Starhorse after a three-season absence. Additional details in regard to this season will be announced by February 8.[2]
Entering this season, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns are two-time defending champions and reigning North Division champions while the Quezon Huskers are the reigning South Division champions.[3][4]
League business
[edit]Expansion and potential contraction
[edit]This season, teams are given until February 1 to submit their intent to compete in this season.[2]
On January 16, 2025, commissioner Kenneth Duremdes announced that an expansion team based in Ilagan, Isabela will join the regional league this season, with the formal signing to be held later that month on January 27. It will mark the first time the league has a team based in the Cagayan Valley region and will continue the league's expansion into Northern Luzon following the additions of the Pangasinan Heatwaves and Abra Weavers last season.[1] After being absent in the last three seasons, the Basilan MPBL team is set to return to the league this season as the Basilan Starhorse, having last competed full-time in the 2019–20 season as the Basilan Steel, and as a guest team in the 2021 Preseason Invitational as the Basilan Jumbo Plastic.[5] Based on location, the Ilagan City MPBL team will likely be placed in the North Division while the Basilan Starhorse will likely return to the South Division.
The organization of the Manila Batang Sampaloc is considering departing from the league following their division quarterfinals exit in last season's playoffs.[6][7] On January 3, 2025, the league announced on social media that the Bacolod City of Smiles franchise doesn't have any representatives heading into this season.[8][9] The status of both franchises currently remains unknown.
Preseason Invitational cancellation
[edit]On January 22, 2025, the league announced that it will not host a Preseason Invitational tournament this season. This is so that competing teams can focus on building their rosters for the season. This will mark the first time in the professional era that the league will not host such a tournament.[2]
Team name changes
[edit]| 2024 team name | 2025 team name |
|---|---|
| Basilan Steel (2019–20) | Basilan Starhorse |
Transactions
[edit]Notable moves
[edit]- Departures
- Two-time 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 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).[10]
- Transfers
- The Marcelino twins, Jaycee and Jayvee, signed with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards after two seasons with the Zamboanga Master Sardines. The former won an MVP award and three All-MPBL First Team selections while with Zamboanga.
- Two-time All-Star Game MVP Jeff Viernes signed with the Basilan Starhorse after one season with Pampanga.
- 2024 all-star Rabeh Al-Hussaini signed with Basilan after one season with the Manila Batang Sampaloc.
- 2023 all-star Emman Calo signed with Basilan after one season with Nueva Ecija.
- 2023 all-star Encho Serrano signed with the Abra Weavers after two seasons with Pampanga.[11]
Coaching changes
[edit]| Team | Departing coach | Incoming coach |
|---|---|---|
| Basilan Starhorse | — | Mac Tan |
| Mindoro Tamaraws | JR Cawaling | Rodney Santos |
Regular season
[edit]The regular season will begin on March 8, 2025. The Ilagan City MPBL team has shown intent in host the opening gameday.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ilagan City newest MPBL team when Season 7 opens on March 8". Spin.ph. January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c "MPBL cancels preseason tourney". Philstar.com. January 22, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Badua, Snow (November 27, 2024). "Basilan team making an MPBL comeback after two-year hiatus". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "COLUMN: Manila Stars' future dim after another early playoff exit". Spin.ph. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Manila Stars considering withdrawal from MPBL". fastbreak.com.ph. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (January 6, 2025). "New Bacolod squad not recognized by MPBL". Panay News. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "MPBL ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE STATUS OF BACOLOD TEAM". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025 – via Facebook.
- ^ Dioquino, Delfin (December 11, 2024). "Top pick Justine Baltazar nears PBA debut after signing with Converge". Rappler. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (January 24, 2025). "Encho Serrano nixes PBA return to sign with Abra Weavers". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 24, 2025.