The 2024 MPBL season was the sixth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its third under professional status. The regular season began on April 6, 2024 with the opening ceremonies at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan, and ended on October 1. The 2024 MPBL All-Star Game was held at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City on September 7. The playoffs began on October 5 and ended on December 7 with the 2024 MPBL finals between the Pampanga Giant Lanterns and Quezon Huskers.
This season featured 29 teams, with two expansion teams making their debut: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.
Team changes Expansion and contraction The MPBL introduced two new expansion teams this season, both based in Northern Luzon: 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.
Name changes 2023 team name 2024 team name(s) Batangas City Embassy Chill Batangas City Athletics (Invitational only) Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters Bicol Volcanoes Bicolandia Oragons GenSan Warriors South Cotabato Warriors Imus SV Squad Imus Agimat Laguna Krah Asia Biñan Tatak Gel Manila Stars Manila Batang Sampaloc Mindoro Disiplinados Mindoro Tamaraws Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc. Valenzuela Classic Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines Zamboanga Master Sardines
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 fully professional players. 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 + Offseason Team Departing coach Incoming coach Abra Weavers Jonathan Banal Bacolod City of Smiles Vincent Salvador Alex Cabagnot Bataan Risers Alex Callueng Rene Baena Bicolandia Oragons Jason Santiago Raymond Valenzona Biñan Tatak Gel Nath Gregorio Boyet Fernandez Bulacan Kuyas Joseph Mabagos Jonathan Reyes Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Robert Sison Alexander Angeles Imus Agimat Jinino Manansala Jun Da Jose Manila Batang Sampaloc Bimbot Anquilo Gabby Severino Marikina Shoemasters Elvis Tolentino Rysal Castro Mindoro Tamaraws Jonathan Reyes JR Cawaling Muntinlupa Cagers Aldrin Morante Mixson Ramos Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Jerson Cabiltes Don Dulay Pampanga Giant Lanterns Dennis Pineda Frederick Dimatulac Pangasinan Heatwaves Jerson Cabiltes Rizal Golden Coolers Jonathan Banal Ralph Rivera South Cotabato Warriors Rich Alvarez Elvis Tolentino
+ In season Team Departing coach Incoming coach Abra Weavers Jonathan Banal Yong Garcia Bacolod City of Smiles Alex Cabagnot RJ Argamino Bataan Risers Rene Baena Goody Ilagan Imus Agimat Jun Da Jose Eric SyIloilo United Royals MC AbolucionJaps Cuan Manila Batang Sampaloc Gabby Severino Ariel Vanguardia
Playing venues New venues for this season are indicated with bold text.
Regular venues
Abra Weavers Bataan Risers Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters University of Abra Bataan People's Center Orion Sports Complex Batangas City Coliseum FPJ Arena Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 3,000
Biñan Tatak Gel Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Manila Batang Sampaloc Mindoro Tamaraws Alonte Sports Arena Caloocan Sports Complex Paco Arena San Andres Sports Complex Pola Gymnasium Capacity: 6,500 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 1,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: N/A
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Pampanga Giant Lanterns Pangasinan Heatwaves Parañaque Patriots Nueva Ecija Coliseum AUF Sports and Cultural Center Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center Calasiao Sports Complex Olivarez College Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 3,500
Parañaque Patriots Pasay Voyagers Quezon Huskers Quezon City Toda Aksyon Villar Coliseum Cuneta Astrodome Lucena Convention Center Quezon Convention Center Amoranto Arena Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 3,500
Rizal Golden Coolers San Juan Knights Valenzuela Classic Zamboanga Master Sardines Ynares Center Filoil EcoOil Centre WES Arena Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum Capacity: 7,400 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 10,000
Other venues Preseason Invitational MPBL finals Neutral venues Lagao Gymnasium Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall Strike Gymnasium Ynares Sports Arena Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: N/A Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 3,000
Preseason
The 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. Pampanga Giant Lanterns were crowned tournament champions after defeating South Cotabato Warriors in the final game, 93–75.
Regular season
Opening ceremony 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.
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.
Format 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
North Division
South Division
Results table
Notes Any game details are subject to change. Any games that are played home or away are indicated by the superscript after the team's abbreviation (H for home and A for away). Games with no superscript are neutral-site.
Postponed games All games scheduled from July 23 to 26 were postponed due to rains brought by Super Typhoon Carina. The games on July 23 at San Andres Sports Complex were rescheduled to September 28 and moved to Olivarez College. The games on July 25 at Caloocan Sports Complex were rescheduled to September 27. The games on July 26 at Olivarez College were rescheduled to September 30. All games scheduled on September 2 at Ynares Sports Arena were postponed due to rains brought by Tropical Depression Enteng. They were later rescheduled to October 1 and moved to Paco Arena. Any postponed or suspended games will be rescheduled towards the end of the season and will be played or resumed should it have playoff implications.
Home-and-away records Team Division Home Neutral Away Record Record Record Abra Weavers North 3 3–0 () 19 13–6 () 6 2–4 () Bacolod City of Smiles South colspan=2 26 1–25 () 2 0–2 () Bataan Risers North 7 3–4 () 17 6–11 () 4 0–4 () Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters South 9 8–1 () 15 11–4 () 4 1–3 () Bicolandia Oragons South colspan=2 28 3–25 () colspan=2 Biñan Tatak Gel South 13 8–5 () 11 10–1 () 4 2–2 () Bulacan Kuyas North colspan=2 23 2–21 () 4 0–4 () Caloocan Batang Kankaloo North 13 8–5 () 14 11–3 () 1 0–1 () Davao Occidental Tigers South colspan=2 17 11–6 () 11 4–7 () Iloilo United Royals South colspan=2 21 9–12 () 7 1–6 () Imus Agimat South colspan=2 27 2–25 () 1 0–1 () Manila Batang Sampaloc North 9 7–2 () 15 12–3 () 4 1–3 () Marikina Shoemasters North colspan=2 25 7–18 () 3 0–3 () Mindoro Tamaraws South 1 1–0 () 26 9–17 () 1 0–1 () Muntinlupa Cagers South colspan=2 24 6–18 () 4 0–4 () Negros Muscovados South colspan=2 26 12–14 () 2 0–2 () Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards North 5 4–1 () 20 19–1 () 3 1–2 () Pampanga Giant Lanterns North 12 12–0 () 13 11–2 () 3 3–0 () Pangasinan Heatwaves North 7 3–4 () 14 8–6 () 7 0–7 () Parañaque Patriots South 10 4–6 () 12 11–1 () 6 2–4 () Pasay Voyagers North 10 9–1 () 17 9–8 () 1 0–1 () Quezon Huskers South 4 3–1 () 17 14–3 () 7 4–3 () Quezon City Toda Aksyon North 2 2–0 () 21 12–9 () 4 1–3 () Rizal Golden Coolers North 1 1–0 () 20 13–7 () 8 1–7 () San Juan Knights North 11 10–1 () 12 12–0 () 4 3–1 () Sarangani Marlins South colspan=2 26 5–21 () 2 0–2 () South Cotabato Warriors South colspan=2 23 15–8 () 5 2–3 () Valenzuela Classic North 4 2–2 () 16 11–5 () 8 1–7 () Zamboanga Master Sardines South colspan=2 22 16–6 () 6 4–2 () Notes
Playoffs
As it has been since 2019, the divisional rounds will utilize a best-of-three format, while the national finals will be best-of-five series.
Bracket Teams in bold advanced to the next round. Teams in italics have homecourt advantage for the series. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its division, while the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round.
Division quarterfinals North Division
South Division
Division semifinals North Division
South Division
Division finals North Division
South Division
National finals
All-Star Game
The 2024 MPBL All-Star Game, the league's fifth overall, took place on September 7, 2024 at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, the home arena of the Zamboanga Master Sardines. The North Division all-stars won against the South Division all-stars for the second consecutive year, 95–91. Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards won All-Star Game MVP honors.
Statistics
Individual leaders End of regular season Category Player Team Statistic Points per game Jaycee Marcelino Zamboanga Master Sardines 20.0 Rebounds per game Justine Baltazar Pampanga Giant Lanterns 14.8 Assists per game Lorenzo Navarro Manila Batang Sampaloc 7.7 Steals per game Jaycee Marcelino Zamboanga Master Sardines 2.5 Blocks per game Jun BonsubreKing Destacamento Caloocan Batang KankalooMuntinlupa Cagers 1.4
Team leaders As of September 28, 2024 Category Team Statistic Points per game Pampanga Giant Lanterns 91.1 Rebounds per game Pampanga Giant Lanterns 55.5 Assists per game Pampanga Giant Lanterns 26.7 Steals per game Marikina Shoemasters 10.8 Blocks per game Negros Muscovados 4.0 Turnovers per game Imus Agimat 15.9
Awards
Individual season awards Most of the league's individual awards were given out on December 7, 2024 before game 3 of the national finals series at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. As per previous seasons, the Finals Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year will be awarded at the conclusion of the national finals.