North Division (MPBL)
| League | Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 2018 |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Pampanga Giant Lanterns (2nd title) |
| Most titles | Pampanga Giant Lanterns San Juan Knights (2 titles each) |
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.[1] As of 2025, both divisions consist of 15 teams each.
The most recent realignment occurred in the 2025 season. The expansion Ilagan Isabela Cowboys were placed in the North Division alongside the returning Pasig City MPBL team. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned to the South Division to balance both divisions.[2]
2025 standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abra Solid North Weavers | 19 | 18[a] | 1 | — |
| 2 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | 19 | 18[a] | 1 | — |
| 3 | San Juan Knights | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 4 | Pampanga Giant Lanterns | 19 | 14 | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Caloocan Batang Kankaloo | 19 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Pangasinan Heatwaves | 18 | 12 | 6 | 5.5 |
| 7 | Pasay Voyagers | 20 | 12 | 8 | 6.5 |
| 8 | Ilagan Isabela Cowboys | 18 | 10 | 8 | 7.5 |
| 9 | Pasig City | 18 | 7 | 11 | 10.5 |
| 10 | Bataan Risers | 19 | 7 | 12 | 11 |
| 11 | Quezon City Galeries Taipan | 19 | 5 | 14 | 13 |
| 12 | Marikina Shoemasters | 19 | 4 | 15 | 14 |
| 13 | Val City Magic | 20 | 4 | 16 | 14.5 |
| 14 | Manila Batang Quiapo | 18 | 2 | 16 | 15.5 |
| 15 | Bulacan Kuyas | 19 | 2 | 17 | 16 |
Updated to match(es) played on July 12, 2025. Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss.
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss.
Notes:
Teams
Current
| Team | Location | Years in division |
|---|---|---|
| Abra Solid North Weavers | Bangued, Abra | 2024–present |
| Bataan Risers | Balanga, Bataan 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 |
| Marikina Shoemasters | Marikina | 2019–present |
| Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Palayan, Nueva Ecija | 2019–present |
| Pampanga Giant Lanterns | San Fernando, Pampanga | 2018–present |
| Pangasinan Heatwaves | Calasiao, Pangasinan Rosales, Pangasinan |
2024–present |
| Pasay Voyagers | Pasay | 2018–2020; 2023–present |
| Pasig City MPBL team | Pasig | 2018–2023; 2025–present |
| Quezon City Galeries Taipan | Quezon City | 2018–present |
| San Juan Knights | San Juan | 2018–present |
| Val City Magic | Valenzuela | 2018–present |
Former
| Team | Location | Years in division | Current division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makati OKBet Kings | Makati | 2018–2023 | Inactive |
| Mandaluyong El Tigre | Mandaluyong | 2018–2019 | Inactive |
| Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines | Navotas | 2018–2020 | Inactive |
| Parañaque Patriots | Parañaque | 2019–2020; 2023 | South Division |
| Rizal Golden Coolers | Antipolo, Rizal | 2019–2020; 2023–2024 | South Division |
| Tarlac United Force | Tarlac City, Tarlac | 2024[a] | Inactive |
- Notes
- ^ The Tarlac United Force withdrew before their first game of the 2024 season due to not being able to fulfill the league's financial obligations to join the following season.
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 (1, 1–0) |
2–1 | Manila (1, 0–1) |
| 2019–20 Lakan Season |
San Juan (2, 2–0) |
2–1 | Makati (1, 0–1) |
| 2022 | Nueva Ecija (1, 1–0) |
2–1 | San Juan (3, 2–1) |
| 2023 | Pampanga (1, 1–0) |
2–0 | San Juan (4, 2–2) |
| 2024 | Pampanga (2, 2–0) |
2–0 | San Juan (5, 2–3) |
Season results
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won MPBL finals | |
| Won division finals, but lost the MPBL finals | |
| Qualified for the playoffs | |
| Season | Team | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | |
| ||||||||||||||||
| 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) |
— | — | — |
| ||||||||||||||||
| 2019–20 Lakan Season |
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 | 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 | 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 | 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) |
TAR (WD) |
— |
| ||||||||||||||||
Rivalries
Nueva Ecija vs. Pampanga
Nueva Ecija vs. San Juan
Pampanga vs. San Juan
References
- ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opens next joust June 12". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Louie Gonzalez finds new home as Ilagan Isabela Cowboys join MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.