North Division (MPBL)

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North Division
LeagueMaharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
SportBasketball
Founded2018
No. of teams15
Most recent
champion(s)
Pampanga Giant Lanterns
(2nd title)
Most titlesPampanga 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

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 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 7 7 0
2
Abra Solid North Weavers
7 6 1 1
3 Pasay Voyagers 8 6 2 1.5
4 San Juan Knights 5 5 0 1
5 Pangasinan Heatwaves 6 5[a] 1 1.5
6 Pampanga Giant Lanterns 6 5[a] 1 1.5
7 Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 7 5 2 2
8
Ilagan Isabela Cowboys
8 4 4 3.5
9 Val City Magic 7 3 4 4
10 Pasig City 3 2 1 3
11 Bataan Risers 7 2[b] 5 5
12 Quezon City Galeries Taipan 7 2[b] 5 5
13 Manila Batang Quiapo 7 1 6 6
14 Marikina Verdiamonds Jewellers 8 0[c] 8 7.5
15 Bulacan Kuyas 8 0[c] 8 7.5
Updated to match(es) played on April 15, 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:
  1. ^ a b Pangasinan (1.100) wins tiebreaker over Pampanga (1.093) based on overall point quotient.
  2. ^ a b Bataan (0.983) wins tiebreaker over Quezon City (0.956) based on overall point quotient.
  3. ^ a b Marikina (0.902) wins tiebreaker over Bulacan (0.704) based on overall point quotient.

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
20182020; 2023–present
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Caloocan 2018–present
Ilagan Isabela Cowboys
Ilagan, Isabela
2025–present
Manila Batang Quiapo Manila 2018–present
Marikina Verdiamonds Jewellers 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 20182020; 2023–present
Pasig City MPBL team Pasig 20182023; 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 20182023 Inactive
Mandaluyong El Tigre Mandaluyong 2018–2019 Inactive
Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines Navotas 20182020 Inactive
Parañaque Patriots Parañaque 2019–2020; 2023 South Division
Rizal Golden Coolers
Antipolo, Rizal
2019–2020; 20232024 South Division
Tarlac United Force
Tarlac City, Tarlac
2024[a] Inactive
Notes
  1. ^ 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: 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)
2019–20
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)
  • 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. [2]

Rivalries

Nueva Ecija vs. Pampanga

Nueva Ecija vs. San Juan

Pampanga vs. San Juan

References

  1. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League opens next joust June 12". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Louie Gonzalez finds new home as Ilagan Isabela Cowboys join MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  3. ^ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.