MPBL division finals
The MPBL division finals are the North and South Division championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the third and penultimate round of the league's playoff tournament. From 2019 to 2024, the division finals series were best-of-three series to determine each division's champion and the two teams who will compete in the MPBL finals. Beginning in 2025, the division finals will be extended to best-of-five series, similar to the national finals.
The current division champions are the Pampanga Giant Lanterns for the North Division and the Quezon Huskers for the South Division.
Overview
When the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League began play in 2018, it featured ten teams and lacked any divisions. The top eight teams overall advanced to the playoffs.
In the 2018–19 season, the MPBL entered its national expansion, going from 10 to 26 teams. With this, the league was also divided into two divisions: the North Division and the South Division. This paved the way for an expanded 16-team, four-round playoff bracket, featuring the top eight teams in each division. The third round, featuring the final two teams in each division, became known as the division finals.[1] Both division finals series are best-of-three, meaning that the first team to win two games will win the division title and advance to the national finals.
Ahead of the 2025 season, the league announced changes to its postseason format, which included the addition of a play-in tournament and an extension of the division finals. Instead of a best-of-three format, both series will be played under a best-of-five format, meaning teams now need to win three games to win the series. The decision to extend the division finals to five games was recommended by team owners.[2]
Key
| Team went on to win the MPBL finals | |
| † | Team with the best regular season record, or tie for best |
List of division finals
North Division
| Year | Champion | Coach | Result | Runner-up | Coach | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Datu Cup |
San Juan Knights | Randy Alcantara | 2–1 | Manila Stars | Philip Cezar | [3] |
| 2020–21 Lakan Season |
San Juan Knights† | Randy Alcantara | 2–1 | Makati Super Crunch | Beaujing Acot | [4] |
| 2022 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards† | Jerson Cabiltes | 2–1 | San Juan Knights | Randy Alcantara | [5] |
| 2023 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns† | Dennis Pineda | 2–0 | San Juan Knights | Randy Alcantara | [6] |
| 2024 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns† | Dennis Pineda | 2–0 | San Juan Knights† | Jinggoy Estrada | [7][8] |
South Division
| Year | Champion | Coach | Result | Runner-up | Coach | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Datu Cup |
Davao Occidental Tigers | Don Dulay | 2–1 | Batangas City Athletics | Mac Tan | [9] |
| 2020–21 Lakan Season |
Davao Occidental Tigers† | Don Dulay | 2–1[lower-alpha 1] | Basilan Steel | Jerson Cabiltes | [10] |
| 2022 | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | Vic Ycasiano | 2–1 | Batangas City Embassy Chill | Cholo Villanueva | [11] |
| 2023 | Bacoor City Strikers | Alexander Angeles | 2–0 | Batangas City Embassy Chill | Cholo Villanueva | [12] |
| 2024 | Quezon Huskers | Eric Gonzales | 2–1 | Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters | Cholo Villanueva | [13][14] |
- Notes
Team records
Appearances
| Team | No. | W | L | PCT | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | 2019, 2020–21 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Batangas City | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 | — | 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Davao Occidental | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2019, 2020–21 | — |
| Pampanga | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2023, 2024 | — |
| Nueva Ecija | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2022 | — |
| Zamboanga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2022 | — |
| Quezon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2024 | — |
| Bacoor City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2023 | — |
| Manila | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | 2019 |
| Basilan | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | 2020–21 |
| Makati | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | 2020–21 |
Games
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | 13 | 5 | 8 | .385 |
| Batangas City | 11 | 3 | 8 | .273 |
| Davao Occidental | 6 | 4 | 2 | .667 |
| Pampanga | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Nueva Ecija | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Zamboanga | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Quezon | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| Basilan | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Makati | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Manila | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| Bacoor City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
References
- ↑ Henson, Joaquin M. "Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opens next joust June 12". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ↑ "Play-ins, best-of-five division finals key MPBL format changes". Philstar.com. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
- ↑ Terrado, Reuben (2019-04-09). "San Juan beats Manila to advance to MPBL Datu Cup finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ Terrado, Reuben (2021-03-10). "San Juan posts 77-point win over five-man Makati to gain MPBL finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ "Nueva Ecija clinches MPBL North division crown". Rappler. December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Pampanga nips San Juan to seize MPBL North Division title". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ↑ "Pampanga makes national finals". Philstar.com. 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ↑ "Pampanga sweeps San Juan, advances to MPBL Nationals with Dubai showdown awaiting". Tiebreaker Times. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ↑ Terrado, Reuben (2019-04-08). "Davao Occidental dominates Batangas at home to reach MPBL national finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ "Davao Occidental advances to MPBL National Finals vs San Juan by default". Inquirer.net. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ↑ "Zamboanga completes huge comeback to seal MPBL Finals date vs. Nueva Ecija". Dugour. December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Bacoor Strikers finish off Batangas, earn shot at Pampanga in MPBL Finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ↑ "LJay Gonzales' heroics propels Quezon to MPBL finals". Spin.ph. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ↑ "L-Jay Gonzales leads Quezon to MPBL South title". Tiebreaker Times. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
2022–23 MPBL season: 2021 MPBL Invitational
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