The North Division is one of two divisions in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the other being the South Division. Both divisions were formed as a result of the league's national expansion in the 2018–19 season. As of 2026, the North Division consists of 14 teams.
The most recent realignment occurred in the 2026 season. The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, Pampanga Giant Lanterns and Pangasinan Heatwaves all departed. The Meycauayan Marilao Gems, which relocated from Muntinlupa, were realigned to the North and so do the Parañaque Patriots to even the divisions.
2026 standings
Teams
Current Team Location Years in division Abra Weavers Bangued, Abra 2024–present Bataan Risers Orion, Bataan 2018–present Bulacan Kuyas Baliwag, Bulacan 2018–2020; 2023–present Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Caloocan 2018–present Ilagan Isabela Cowboys Ilagan, Isabela 2025–present Manila Batang Quiapo Manila 2018–present Meycauayan Marilao Gems Meycauayan, Bulacan Marilao, Bulacan 2026–present Marikina Shoemasters Marikina 2019–present Parañaque Patriots Parañaque 2019–2020; 2023; 2026–present Pasay Voyagers Pasay 2018–2020; 2023–present Pasig City MPBL team Pasig 2018–2023; 2025–present Quezon City Black Bulls Quezon City 2018–present San Juan Knights San Juan 2018–present Valenzuela City Darkhorse Valenzuela 2018–present
Former Team Location Years in division Current division Makati Skyscrapers Makati 2018–2023 Mandaluyong El Tigre Mandaluyong 2018–2019 Navotas Clutch Navotas 2018–2020 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Palayan, Nueva Ecija 2019–2025 Pampanga Giant Lanterns San Fernando, Pampanga 2018–2025 Pangasinan Heatwaves Rosales, Pangasinan 2024–2025 Rizal Golden Coolers Antipolo, Rizal 2019–2020; 2023–2024 South Division Tarlac United Force Tarlac City, Tarlac 2024 Notes
Timeline Denotes team that is currently in the division Denotes team that has left the division Denotes period in which the team is/was in the opposing division
North Division finals history Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of times that team has appeared in the North Division finals, as well as each respective teams' North Division finals record up to date.
Won MPBL finals
Season Champion Series Runner-up 2018–19 Datu Cup San Juan 2–1 Manila 2019–20 Lakan Season San Juan 2–1 Makati 2022 Nueva Ecija 2–1 San Juan 2023 Pampanga 2–0 San Juan 2024 Pampanga 2–0 San Juan 2025 Abra 3–0 Pangasinan
Season results Legend Won MPBL finals Won division finals, but lost the MPBL finals Qualified for the playoffs Qualified for the play-in, but failed to reach playoffs
Season Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 2018: The North Division was formed with thirteen member teams. 2018–19 Datu Cup BAN (23–2) MKT (21–4) SJ (20–5) MNL (20–5) BUL (14–11) NAV (13–12) QC (12–13) CAL (11–14) PAM (11–14) VAL (10–15) MDL (8–17) PSY (8–17) PSG (4–21) 2019: Expansion side Nueva Ecija was placed in the North Division while Mandaluyong departed from the league. Marikina, Parañaque, and Rizal joined from the South Division. 2019–20 SJ (26–4) MNL (25–5) MKT (22–8) PAM (21–9) BAN (20–10) BUL (19–11) PSG (18–12) PSY (17–13) CAL (16–14) VAL (11–19) NE (10–20) QC (10–20) MAR (8–22) PAR (8–22) NAV (7–22) RZL (6–23) 2022: Bulacan, Navotas, Parañaque, and Pasay departed from the league. Rizal was realigned back to the South Division. 2022 NE (21–0) PSG (14–7) SJ (14–7) PAM (14–7) BAN (13–8) VAL (10–11) QC (9–12) MAR (8–13) CAL (6–15) MNL (6–15) MKT (2–19) 2023: Returning sides Bulacan, Parañaque, and Pasay were placed in the North Division. Rizal rejoined from the South Division. 2023 PAM (26–2) NE (23–5) MKT (21–7) CAL (20–8) PSG (19–9) SJ (19–9) PSY (17–11) MAR (16–12) BAN (13–15) RZL (12–16) PAR (11–17) BUL (7–21) MNL (4–23) QC (3–25) VAL (3–25) 2024: Expansion sides Abra, Pangasinan, and Tarlac were placed in the North Division while Makati and Pasig departed from the league. Parañaque was realigned back to the South Division. Tarlac was pulled out before playing their first game of the season. 2024 SJ (26–2) PAM (26–2) NE (24–4) MNL (20–8) CAL (19–9) PSY (18–10) ABR (18–10) RZL (15–13) QC (15–13) VAL (14–14) PGS (12–16) BAN (9–19) MAR (7–21) BUL (2–26) 2025: Expansion side Ilagan Isabela was placed in the North Division alongside returning side Pasig. Rizal was realigned back once again to the South Division. 2025 ABR (28–1) NE (27–2) SJ (26–3) CAL (21–8) PAM (21–8) PSY (21–8) PGS (20–9) ILA (15–14) BAN (13–16) PSG (12–17) VAL (7–22) QC (7–22) MNL (4–25) MAR (4–25) BUL (3–26) 2026: Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Pangasinan departed from the league. Relocated side Meycauayan Marilao realigned from the South Division alongside Parañaque.
Rivalries
Nueva Ecija vs. Pampanga
Nueva Ecija vs. San Juan
Pampanga vs. San Juan
References