2024 MPBL season

The 2024 MPBL season is the sixth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the third as a professional league. The regular season began on April 6, 2024. This season features 29 teams, with two expansion teams making their debut: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns are the defending league champions and reigning North Division champions.

Buenas signed on as the MPBL's new title sponsor, succeeding both OKBet (regular season) and Nexus88 Gaming (playoffs) from the previous season, with Xtreme Appliances continuing as presenting sponsor.

League business

Team changes

Expansion and contraction

The MPBL introduced two new expansion teams this season: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves. Abra became the first team based in the Cordillera Administrative Region while Pangasinan became the first in the Ilocos Region. This season would have seen a third expansion team, the Tarlac United Force, however the league pulled the team out after failing to comply with the league's financial obligations.

The Davao Occidental Tigers made their return to the league after a two-season absence, during which they competed in the Pilipinas Super League. On the other hand, the Makati OKBet Kings, Pasig City MCW Sports, and the reigning South Division champion Bacoor City Strikers all departed after four seasons in the league.

The two expansion teams (Abra and Pangasinan) were all placed in the North Division. Davao Occidental was placed back into the South Division together with the Parañaque Patriots. Due to Tarlac's withdrawal, the league remains at 29 teams, with the North Division having 14 teams and the South having 15.

Relocation

During the off-season, the Imus SV Squad relocated to Biñan, Laguna and renamed as the Biñan Tatak Gel, taking over the slot previously held by Laguna Krah Asia. However, the team's records prior to their relocation to Imus are transferred to a new Imus-based team, the Imus Agimat. For continuity, the records of the previous Laguna/Biñan City franchise are then merged into Biñan Tatak Gel. This situation is similar to when the Air21 Express and Barako Bull Energy franchises switched names in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Name changes

Regulation changes

Beginning with this season, the league has removed the ex-PBA player limit from its roster regulations, allowing teams to sign any number of professional players. Mid-season, the league was affected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) decision to no longer allow its Special Guest Licensees to play in professional leagues, which came into effect on June 1, 2024.

Transactions

Coaching changes

Playing venues

New venues for this season are indicated with bold text.

Regular venues

• The Quezon City Toda Aksyon is slated to also play at home in an unannounced venue.

Out-of-town venues

• The Negros Muscovados hinted at the possibility of playing their home games in Cadiz, Negros Occidental.

Other venues

Preseason

This season's Preseason Invitational ran from February 21 to 27, 2024. Similar to the previous edition, the tournament featured eight teams and took place at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos in line with the city's Kalilangan Festival. The Pampanga Giant Lanterns were crowned tournament champions after defeating the South Cotabato Warriors in the final game, 93–75.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony took place at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan. Singer and Calasiao native Mitoy Yonting is one of the performers to kick off the season. The team and muse showcase then followed, with Barbie Imperial, representing the Abra Weavers, winning the Best Muse award.

The first game saw the Zamboanga Master Sardines beat the Valenzuela Classic in overtime, while the second saw the host Pangasinan Heatwaves fall to the Abra Weavers in a clash of the league's two Northern Luzon expansion teams.

Regular season

Originally scheduled for March 16, 2024, this season's opening gameday was postponed twice. First by a week to March 23 and the second by another two weeks to April 6, the latter being due in part to the observance of Holy Week in the country during the week after March 23.

Similar to previous seasons, all participating teams play in a single round-robin tournament for the regular season, playing one game against every other team. This season, each of the 29 teams is expected to play 28 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. The top eight teams in each division will advance to the 2024 MPBL playoffs.

Standings

Results table

Notes

• Games are currently scheduled up to August 31, 2024 and are subject to change. Future games will be scheduled as the season continues.
• The home/neutral/away status may also change due to venue changes.
• Should any games be postponed or suspended, they will be rescheduled towards the end of the season if it has playoff implications. Otherwise, the game is cancelled outright.

Home-and-away records

Notes

Statistics

As of June 3, 2024

Individual statistical leaders

Team statistical leaders

As of June 29, 2024

Awards

Players of the Week

Notable events

• Ahead of the season, the MPBL banned 47 players and officials for allegedly being involved in game fixing.
• On April 16, 2024, an altercation took place following the Abra–Pasay game in which one of the game officials was attacked by bodyguards of the Abra Weavers' team owner. The league has since launched an investigation of the incident.
• On April 24, 2024, Germy Mahinay was fined and suspended indefinitely after undercutting Joey Barcuma during the Negros–Zamboanga game on April 22, which resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul leading to his ejection from the game.

Records and milestones

Records

• On June 3, 2024, the Bicolandia Oragons lost their 22nd straight game, surpassing the 2020 Soccsksargen/Sarangani Marlins for the longest losing streak in league history. The streak would eventually end at 23 games following a win over Bacolod City of Smiles on June 12.

Milestones

• April 6, 2024 – Jaycee Marcelino becomes the 29th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• April 12, 2024 – Ian Melencio becomes the 30th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• April 17, 2024 – Michael Mabulac becomes the 6th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career rebounds.
  • Michael Mabulac also becomes the 4th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points and rebounds.
• April 20, 2024 – Robby Celiz becomes the 31st player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• April 22, 2024:
  • Jhaymo Eguilos becomes the 7th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career rebounds.
    • Jhaymo Eguilos also becomes the 5th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points and rebounds.
  • Carlo Lastimosa becomes the 32nd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• April 25, 2024 – Orlan Wamar Jr. becomes the 33rd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• April 29, 2024 – Mark Cruz becomes the 34th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• May 7, 2024 – Billy Ray Robles becomes the 35th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• May 17, 2024 – Emman Calo becomes the 36th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
• June 19, 2024 – Paolo Javelona becomes the 37th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.

Junior MPBL tournaments

Junior MPBL began its second season on May 5, 2024, retaining the same three age groups (14-under, 16-under, and 18-under). A new 21-under age group, billed as the Junior MPBL D-League, will begin its first season during this season as well.

Media

This season marks the third year of Cignal TV's broadcast partnership with the league. Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV) still handles all live television broadcasts while One PH continues to air the primetime game on a delayed basis. The games are streamed live via Pilipinas Live and online on Facebook and YouTube.

References