The rivalry between the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) led by Ramon S. Ang (RSA) and the MVP Group led by Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) is a noted aspect of the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) modern history. This extends to the franchise teams the two groups own in the basketball league.
Teams The SMC and MVP groups owns three franchise teams each in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Group Team Company Joined PBA Team founded Acquired by SMC/MVP SMC Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. 19791984 Magnolia Hotshots San Miguel Food and Beverage198819862001 San Miguel Beermen San Miguel Brewery, Inc.1975 MVP Meralco Bolts Manila Electric Company20101968 NLEX Road Warriors NLEX Corporation20142011 TNT Tropang 5G Smart Communications 19902001
Results This list is only consists of results starting from the 2010–11 season, when the Meralco Bolts joined the league.
Elimination round The numbers in parentheses indicate the teams actual ranking in the conference followed by their record.
SMC group team MVP group team Italics indicate team did not make playoffs
Season Conference 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 2010–11 Philippine Talk 'N Text (1st, 11–3) San Miguel (2nd, 11–3) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 10–4) B-Meg (4th, 7–7) Meralco (5th, 7–7) Commissioner's Talk 'N Text (1st, 8–1) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 5–4) B-Meg (7th, 4–5) Meralco (8th, 3–6) San Miguel (10th, 2–7) Governors' Talk 'N Text (1st, 6–2) Petron (2nd, 5–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 5–3) B-Meg (6th, 4–4) Meralco (8th, 3–5) 2011–12 Philippine B-Meg (1st, 10–4) Talk 'N Text (2nd, 10–4) Petron (3rd, 9–5) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 9–5) Meralco (6th, 8–6) Commissioner's Talk 'N Text (1st, 7–2) Barangay Ginebra (2nd, 6–3) B-Meg (3rd, 6–3) Meralco (6th, 4–5) Petron (9th, 3–6) Governors' B-Meg (2nd, 6–3) Talk 'N Text (3rd, 5–4) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 5–4) Petron (5th, 5–4) Meralco (6th, 4–5) 2012–13 Philippine Talk 'N Text (1st, 12–2) San Mig (2nd, 10–4) Meralco (4th, 8–6) Barangay Ginebra (6th, 7–7) Petron (7th, 6–8) Commissioner's Petron (3rd, 8–6) San Mig (4th, 8–6) Meralco (5th, 7–7) Talk 'N Text (6th, 7–7) Barangay Ginebra (7th, 7–7) Governors' Petron (1st, 8–1) San Mig (2nd, 6–3) Meralco (3rd, 5–4) Barangay Ginebra (8th, 3–6) Talk 'N Text (9th, 3–6) 2013–14 Philippine Barangay Ginebra (1st, 11–3) Petron (3rd, 10–4) Talk 'N Text (4th, 8–6) San Mig (5th, 7–7) Meralco (9th, 5–9) Commissioner's Talk 'N Text (1st, 9–0) San Miguel (2nd, 7–2) Meralco (5th, 5–4) San Mig (6th, 4–5) Barangay Ginebra (8th, 3–6) Governors' Talk 'N Text (1st, 7–2) San Mig (4th, 5–4) San Miguel (5th, 5–4) Barangay Ginebra (6th, 5–4) Meralco (9th, 3–6) 2014–15 Philippine San Miguel (1st, 9–2) Talk 'N Text (4th, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (5th, 6–5) Meralco (6th, 6–5) Purefoods (7th, 6–5) NLEX (10th, 4–7) Commissioner's Talk 'N Text (2nd, 8–3) Purefoods (3rd, 8–3) NLEX (4th, 6–5) Meralco (5th, 6–5) Barangay Ginebra (8th, 5–6) San Miguel (9th, 4–7) Governors' San Miguel (2nd, 8–3) Star (5th, 6–5) Meralco (7th, 5–6) Barangay Ginebra (8th, 5–6) Talk 'N Text (10th, 5–6) NLEX (11th, 3–8) 2015–16 Philippine San Miguel (2nd, 9–2) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 7–4) TNT (6th, 6–5) NLEX (7th, 5–6) Star (9th, 4–7) Meralco (12th, 1–10) Commissioner's San Miguel (1st, 8–3) Meralco (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 7–4) TNT (6th, 6–5) NLEX (7th, 5–6) Star (8th, 5–6) Governors' TNT (1st, 10–1) San Miguel (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 8–3) Meralco (4th, 6–5) NLEX (7th, 5–6) Star (11th, 2–9) 2016–17 Philippine San Miguel (1st, 10–1) Star (3rd, 7–4) TNT (4th, 6–5) Barangay Ginebra (7th, 6–5) Meralco (11th, 3–8) NLEX (12th, 2–9) Commissioner's Barangay Ginebra (1st, 9–2) San Miguel (2nd, 9–2) Star (3rd, 9–2) TNT (4th, 8–3) Meralco (5th, 7–4) NLEX (12th, 2–9) Governors' Meralco (1st, 9–2) TNT (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 8–3) Star (4th, 7–4) NLEX (5th, 7–4) San Miguel (6th, 7–4) 2017–18 Philippine San Miguel (1st, 8–3) Magnolia (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 6–5) NLEX (6th, 6–5) TNT (8th, 5–6) Meralco (11th, 4–7) Commissioner's TNT (3rd, 8–3) Meralco (4th, 7–4) Barangay Ginebra (5th, 6–5) San Miguel (6th, 6–5) Magnolia (7th, 6–5) NLEX (11th, 2–9) Governors' Barangay Ginebra (1st, 9–2) Magnolia (4th, 8–3) San Miguel (6th, 6–5) Meralco (7th, 5–6) NLEX (8th, 5–6) TNT (9th, 4–7) 2019 Philippine Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 7–4) TNT (4th, 7–4) San Miguel (5th, 7–4) Magnolia (6th, 6–5) NLEX (9th, 4–7) Meralco (11th, 3–8) Commissioner's TNT (1st, 10–1) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 7–4) Magnolia (5th, 5–6) San Miguel (7th, 5–6) Meralco (9th, 4–7) NLEX (12th, 3–8) Governors' NLEX (1st, 8–3) Meralco (2nd, 8–3) TNT (3rd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 7–4) San Miguel (5th, 6–5) Magnolia (6th, 6–5) 2020 Philippine Barangay Ginebra (1st, 8–3) TNT (3rd, 7–4) San Miguel (4th, 7–4) Meralco (5th, 7–4) Magnolia (7th, 7–4) NLEX (9th, 5–6) 2021 Philippine TNT (1st, 10–1) Meralco (2nd, 9–2) Magnolia (3rd, 8–3) San Miguel (4th, 7–4) NLEX (7th, 5–6) Barangay Ginebra (8th, 4–7) Governors' Magnolia (1st, 9–2) NLEX (2nd, 8–3) TNT (3rd, 7–4) Meralco (4th, 7–4) San Miguel (5th, 7–4) Barangay Ginebra (6th, 6–5) 2022–23 Philippine San Miguel (1st, 9–2) TNT (2nd, 8–3) Magnolia (3rd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 8–3) Meralco (5th, 7–4) NLEX (6th, 6–5) Commissioner's Magnolia (2nd, 10–2) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 9–3) San Miguel (5th, 7–5) NLEX (9th, 5–7) Meralco (10th, 4–8) TNT (11th, 4–8) Governors' TNT (1st, 10–1) San Miguel (2nd, 9–2) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 8–3) Meralco (4th, 7–4) Magnolia (5th, 7–4) NLEX (6th, 7–4) 2023–24 Commissioner's Magnolia (1st, 9–2) San Miguel (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (3rd, 8–3) Meralco (5th, 8–3) TNT (8th, 5–6) NLEX (9th, 4–7) Philippine San Miguel (1st, 10–1) Barangay Ginebra (2nd, 7–4) Meralco (3rd, 6–5) TNT (4th, 6–5) NLEX (6th, 6–5) Magnolia (7th, 6–5) 2024–25 Governors' TNT (1st in Group A, 8–2) Meralco (2nd in Group A, 7–3) San Miguel (2nd in Group B, 6–4) Barangay Ginebra (3rd in Group B, 6–4) Magnolia (4th in Group A, 5–5) NLEX (4th in Group B, 4–7) Commissioner's TNT (2nd, 9–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 8–4) Meralco (5th, 7–5) Magnolia (8th, 6–6) NLEX (9th, 6–6) San Miguel (10th, 8–3) Philippine San Miguel (1st, 8–3) NLEX (2nd, 8–3) Magnolia (3rd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (4th, 8–3) TNT (6th, 6–5) Meralco (8th, 6–5) 2025–26 Philippine San Miguel (1st, 9–2) TNT (2nd, 8–3) Barangay Ginebra (5th, 7–4) Magnolia (6th, 6–5) Meralco (7th, 6–5) NLEX (8th, 6–5) Commissioner's NLEX (1st, 10–2) Barangay Ginebra (2nd, 9–3) Meralco (4th, 8–4) Magnolia (5th, 7–5) San Miguel (6th, 6–6) TNT (8th, 6–6)
Finals Won by a team from the SMC group Won by a team from the MVP group Won by a team from neither group
SeasonConferenceChampionSeriesRunner-UpWinning coach 2010–11 Philippine Talk 'N Text 4–2 San Miguel Chot Reyes Commissioner's Talk 'N Text 4–2 Barangay Ginebra Chot Reyes Governors' Petron 4–3 Talk 'N Text Ato Agustin 2011–12 Philippine Talk 'N Text 4–1 Powerade Chot Reyes Commissioner's B-Meg 4–3 Talk 'N Text Tim Cone Governors' Rain or Shine 4–3 B-Meg Yeng Guiao 2012–13 Philippine Talk 'N Text 4–0 Rain or Shine Norman Black Commissioner's Alaska 3–0 Barangay Ginebra Luigi Trillo Governors' San Mig Coffee 4–3 Petron Tim Cone 2013–14 Philippine San Mig Coffee 4–2 Rain or Shine Tim Cone Commissioner's San Mig Coffee 3–1 Talk 'N Text Tim Cone Governors' San Mig Coffee 3–2 Rain or Shine Tim Cone 2014–15 Philippine San Miguel 4–3 Alaska Leo Austria Commissioner's Talk 'N Text 4–3 Rain or Shine Jong Uichico Governors' San Miguel 4–0 Alaska Leo Austria 2015–16 Philippine San Miguel 4–3 Alaska Leo Austria Commissioner's Rain or Shine 4–2 Alaska Yeng Guiao Governors' Barangay Ginebra 4–2 Meralco Tim Cone 2016–17 Philippine San Miguel 4–1 Barangay Ginebra Leo Austria Commissioner's San Miguel 4–2 TNT Leo Austria Governors' Barangay Ginebra 4–3 Meralco Tim Cone 2017–18 Philippine San Miguel 4–1 Magnolia Leo Austria Commissioner's Barangay Ginebra 4–2 San Miguel Tim Cone Governors' Magnolia 4–2 Alaska Chito Victolero 2019 Philippine San Miguel 4–3 Magnolia Leo AustriaCommissioner's San Miguel 4–2 TNT Leo Austria Governors' Barangay Ginebra 4–1 Meralco Tim Cone2020 Philippine Barangay Ginebra 4–1 TNT Tim Cone2021 Philippine TNT 4–1 Magnolia Chot ReyesGovernors' Barangay Ginebra 4–2 Meralco Tim Cone2022–23 Philippine San Miguel 4–3 TNT Leo AustriaCommissioner's Barangay Ginebra 4–3 Bay Area Tim ConeGovernors' TNT 4–2 Barangay Ginebra Jojo Lastimosa2023–24 Commissioner's San Miguel 4–2 Magnolia Jorge GallentPhilippine Meralco 4–2 San Miguel Luigi Trillo2024–25 Governors' TNT 4–2 Barangay Ginebra Chot ReyesCommissioner's TNT 4–3 Barangay Ginebra Chot ReyesPhilippine San Miguel 4–2 TNT Leo Austria2025–26 Philippine San Miguel 4–2 TNT Leo AustriaCommissioner's Barangay Ginebra 4–3 TNT Tim Cone
Effect on the league In 2023, Dennis Anthony Uy who owns the Converge FiberXers has attributed the "duopoly" or dominance of the two groups to the declining attendance in the PBA. Wilfred Uytengsu of the now-defunct Alaska franchise has long urged for a "level playing field" for the PBA's 12 franchise teams. During the Season 48 draft, coach Yeng Guiao of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters has asked for other teams to strengthen and develop their respective lineups. Guiao also stressed that top picks in the draft may end up in the SMC and MVP teams in future conferences.
As of the 2026 Commissioner's Cup, only Alaska and Rain or Shine are the teams not affiliated to the SMC or MVP groups to have won a title across the 34 conferences that were held since 2010. Since the 2016 Governors' Cup, those titles were only won by teams from those two groups.
In the PBA Board, the SMC and MVP groups have multiple votes in issues. Since 2014, the two groups have three votes each (one for each team). For basketball-related issues, the two groups only have two votes each. The six other independent teams also have their own voting power in the board.
The existence of multiple teams under the SMC and MVP groups has been subject to criticism itself; three teams each, with two more other having "ties" with SMC. Alfrancis Chua insist that the maintenance of multiple or sister team is essential to keep the membership count in the PBA.
Notes
References