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 is expected to end in September 2024. This season features 29 teams, with two expansion teams making their debut: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.[1]
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns are the defending champions and reigning North Division champions.[2]
The MPBL introduced two new expansion teams this season: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.[1] 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,[3] however the league pulled the team out after failing to comply with the league's financial obligations.[4]
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.
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.[1] 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.[5][6]
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.[1] The Pampanga Giant Lanterns were crowned tournament champions after defeating the South Cotabato Warriors in the final game, 93–75.[8]
The opening ceremony took place at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan.[9] 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.[10][11]
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.[12]
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.
The playoffs are expected to begin in October 2024. As it has been since 2019, the divisional rounds will utilize a best-of-three format while the championship series, the national finals, will be a best-of-five series.
Currently, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns are the only team to have clinched a playoff spot.
As of June 3, 2024
As of July 27, 2024
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.
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.
Cadiz are you ready for the home game?
Baltazar is the first MPBL player picked No. 1 in the PBA Draft.
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