The 2026 MPBL season is the eighth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and fifth as a professional league. The season began on April 10.
The league contracted to 28 teams this season, down from 30 in 2025. This will also be the first season with Kenneth Duremdes as league president and Emmerson Oreta league commissioner. SportsPlus will be the title sponsor for this season.
League changes
Leadership changes On January 17, 2026, the league underwent its first significant leadership change since beginning play in 2018. After eight years as commissioner of the MPBL, Kenneth Duremdes transitioned into a new role as league president. In his place, former head of operations Emmerson Oreta was appointed as the league's third commissioner. Format changes The MPBL finals is being expanded to a best-of-seven series, continuing the league's postseason expansion from the previous season.
Teams Team changes This season will feature one expansion team, the Meycauayan Marilao Gems, who will replace the Muntinlupa Cagers. Two returning team are also confirmed in the Iloilo United Royals and the Negros Hacienderos (formerly the Negros Muscovados). On the other hand, four teams departed from the league, which includes three former champions: Davao Occidental Tigers, Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and Pampanga Giant Lanterns. Alongside the aforementioned Muntinlupa, the Pangasinan Heatwaves are the other departure from this season.
A number of returning teams have also changed their names: Old name New name(s) Bacolod Tubo Slashers Bacolod Masskara Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters Batangas City Athletics Basilan Starhorse Basilan Steel Imus Braderhood Imus Bandera Negros Muscovados Negros Hacienderos Quezon City Galeries Taipan Quezon City Black Bulls Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tires Sarangani Marlins Val City Magic Valenzuela City Darkhorse
Transactions Coaching changes + Off-season changes Team Departing coach Incoming coach Bacolod Masskara Paolo Javelona Lency Aransazo Basilan Steel Rich Alvarez Arnold Oliveros Bulacan Kuyas Terence Reyes Allan Salangsang Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Myk Saguiguit Jerson Cabiltes Cebu Greats Junthy Valenzuela Aldrin Morante Imus Bandera Britt Reroma Michael Calomot Iloilo United Royals Sherwin Cantos Parañaque Patriots Melquiades Villanueva JR Villanueva Pasig City Aldrin Morante Ryan De Ramos Rizal Golden Coolers Ralph Emerson Rivera Mark Dandan Quezon City Black Bulls Jeff Perlas Javy Olea Sarangani Marlins Ronnie Dojillo John Kallos Valenzuela City Darkhorse Raymond Valenzona Estong Ballesteros Zamboanga Sikat Bong Ramos John Sia
+ Mid-season changes Team Departing coach Incoming coach Imus Bandera Michael Calomot Albert RabeIloilo United Royals Sherwin Cantos RJ Patricio Mindoro Tamaraws Bengie Teodoro Edgar Macaraya Rizal Golden Coolers Mark Dandan Don Dulay Pasig City Ryan De Ramos Arvin Guinto Sarangani Marlins John Kallos Gilbert Cole Zamboanga Sikat John Sia JR Carlos
Playing venues Arena changes The Bulacan Kuyas returned to its primary home venues in Baliwag Star Arena in Baliwag, Bulacan, Malolos Sports & Convention Center, and Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium both in Malolos, Bulacan. Bulacan played in Baliwag for the first time since 2023, while they returned to both Malolos venues for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The Victory Coliseum in San Rafael, Bulacan became a new alternative venue for the Bulacan Kuyas. The Novadeci Convention Center became a new alternative venue for the Quezon City Black Bulls. The San Jose del Monte Sports Complex in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan became the primary home venue of the Meycauayan Marilao Gems. The Polomolok Gymnasium in Polomolok, South Cotabato became the alternate venue for the GenSan Warriors. The Camaya Coast Events Place Center in Mariveles, Bataan became a new alternate venue for the Bataan Risers. The Calapan City Coliseum in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro became a new alternate venue for the Mindoro Tamaraws.
Regular arenas New venues for this season are indicated with bold text.
Abra Solid North Weavers Bataan Risers Batangas City Athletics University of Abra Bataan People's Center Camaya Coast Orion Sports Complex Batangas City Coliseum Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: N/A Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 4,000
Biñan Tatak Gel Bulacan Kuyas Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Alonte Sports Arena Baliwag Star Arena Malolos Sports & Convention Center Victory Coliseum Caloocan Sports Complex Capacity: 6,500 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: N/A Capacity: 3,000
Cebu Greats GenSan Warriors Ilagan Isabela Cowboys Manila Batang Quiapo Cebu Coliseum Hoops Dome Polomolok Gymnasium Capital Arena Paco Arena Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 4,600 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 1,000
Meycauayan Marilao Gems Mindoro Tamaraws Parañaque Patriots Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium San Jose del Monte Sports Complex Calapan City Coliseum Pola Gymnasium Olivarez College Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 3,500 Capacity: N/A Capacity: 3,500
Pasay Voyagers Pasig City MPBL team Quezon Huskers Quezon City Black Bulls Rizal Golden Coolers Cuneta Astrodome Ynares Sports Arena Quezon Convention Center Novadeci Convention Center One Arena Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 3,000
Rizal Golden Coolers San Juan Knights Ynares Center Montalban Playtime Filoil Centre Capacity: 8,000 Capacity: 6,000
Other arenas
Neutral Strike Gymnasium Villar Coliseum Mandaluyong City College of Science and Technology San Andres Sports Complex Navotas Convention Center Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: N/A Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 2,633
Neutral Quezon City District 2 Gymnasium Capacity: 2,000
Preseason
After a hiatus in 2025, the MPBL Preseason Invitational returned in 2026, this time with sixteen teams competing. The tournament ran from February 7 to March 21, 2026 and saw the Abra Weavers win the tournament. The Quezon Huskers finished as runners-up.
Regular season The regular season will open on April 10. Unlike previous seasons, the season opener will be split into two, with a team from each division hosting a doubleheader of games in their respective home arenas. The North Division season opener will be hosted by the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo at Caloocan Sports Complex while the South Division opener will be hosted by Biñan Tatak Gel at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
The regular season will follow the traditional round-robin tournament format. Each team will play 27 games, one against each team.
Standings
North Division
South Division
Results table
Notes Any game details are subject to change. The full schedule is revealed over time as the season progresses. Games that are played home or away are indicated by the superscript after the opposing team's abbreviation (H for home and A for away). Games with no superscript are neutral-site. All Bacolod and Iloilo games were revoked due to the team's disqualification. The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo decided to forfeit their game against the Biñan Tatak Gel. The Manila Batang Quiapo decided to forfeit their game against the Zamboanga Sikat.
Postponed games All games scheduled on August 14, 17, 18, and 20 were postponed due to heavy rains affecting Greater Manila Area and nearby areas.
Home-and-away records Team Division Home Neutral Away Record Record Record Abra Weavers North 1 1–0 () 20 19–1 () 4 3–1 () Bacolod Masskara South colspan=2 22 3–19 () colspan=2 Basilan Steel South colspan=2 22 11–11 () 4 2–2 () Bataan Risers North 9 5–4 () 14 7–7 () 2 1–1 () Batangas City Athletics South 11 9–2 () 11 8–3 () 3 2–1 () Biñan Tatak Gel South 6 4–2 () 15 13–2 () 4 4–0 () Bulacan Kuyas North 5 1–4 () 17 5–12 () 3 0–3 () Caloocan Batang Kankaloo North 7 4–3 () 13 11–2 () 5 5–0 () Cebu Greats South 2 0–2 () 22 18–4 () 1 1–0 () GenSan Warriors South 1 1–0 () 16 13–3 () 7 4–3 () Ilagan Isabela Cowboys North 1 1–0 () 23 12–11 () 1 0–1 () Iloilo United Royals South colspan=2 13 2–11 () 1 0–1 () Imus Bandera South colspan=2 21 3–18 () 4 1–3 () Manila Batang Quiapo North 4 0–4 () 20 1–19 () 1 0–1 () Marikina Shoemasters North colspan=2 25 6–19 () 2 0–2 () Meycauayan Marilao Gems North 2 1–1 () 20 11–9 () 3 1–2 () Mindoro Tamaraws South 1 1–0 () 22 12–10 () 2 0–2 () Negros Hacienderos South colspan=2 23 2–21 () 2 0–2 () Parañaque Patriots North 1 0–1 () 21 2–19 () 3 0–3 () Pasay Voyagers North 14 7–7 () 11 7–4 () colspan=2 Pasig City North 3 2–1 () 18 9–9 () 4 0–4 () Quezon Huskers South 1 0–1 () 17 15–2 () 6 5–1 () Quezon City Black Bulls North 2 1–1 () 21 10–11 () 2 0–2 () Rizal Golden Coolers South 7 4–3 () 15 11–4 () 3 1–2 () San Juan Knights North 2 1–1 () 18 17–1 () 5 4–1 () Sarangani Marlins South colspan=2 22 3–19 () 3 0–3 () Valenzuela City Darkhorse North colspan=2 19 8–11 () 6 2–4 () Zamboanga Sikat South colspan=2 24 10–14 () 1 1–0 () Notes
Play-in tournament In each division, the seventh-place team will play against the eighth-place team with the winning team clinching the seventh seed in the playoffs. On the other hand, the ninth-place team will play against the tenth-place team with the losing team being eliminated from playoff contention. The loser of the 7–8 game will then face-off against the winner of the 9–10 game for the eighth seed in the playoffs, with the losing team being eliminated. The first two play-in games in each division are hosted by the seventh-place team in each division, while the final play-in gameday will be hosted by the highest-ranked play-in team remaining.
Teams in bold won the game indicated. Teams in italics have homecourt advantage under the aforementioned rules. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's regular season ranking in its division, while the numbers to the right indicate the number of points the team scored in that game.
North Division
South Division
Playoffs
The 2026 MPBL playoffs was started on October 2, 2026. The first two rounds, the division quarterfinals and semifinals, are best-of-three series, while the division finals are best-of-five series. The national finals will be a best-of-seven 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
All-Star Game
The 2026 MPBL All-Star Game, the league's seventh overall, was supposed to take place on August 29 at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rodriguez, Rizal, the home arena of the Rizal Golden Coolers. Due to inclement weather affecting Greater Manila Area, the annual All-Star weekend was postponed and moved to September 19.
Coaches A head coach from each division, usually from a higher-ranked team, is selected to represent their respective divisions. On August 8, 2026, Yong Garcia of the Abra Solid North Weavers and Pocholo Villanueva of the Batangas City Athletics were announced as this season's all-star coaches.
Garcia will be coaching the North All-Stars for the second straight season, while Villanueva will lead the South All-Stars for the second time, having coached in 2022.
Lineups The starters were announced on July 30, 2026. In the North Division, Orlan Wamar Jr. of the San Juan Knights was selected as an all-star starter for the fourth consecutive season. Abra's Dave Ildefonso was selected as an all-star starter for the second consecutive season. Raven Gonzales of Abra and Warlo Batac of Pasig City will make their second all-star appearance and their first as an all-star starter. Kymani Ladi of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo will make his all-star debut.