2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational

2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational
Tournament details
Country Philippines
VenueVarious
DatesFebruary 7 – March 21, 2026
Teams18
Final positions
ChampionsAbra Solid North Weavers
Runners-upQuezon Huskers
Tournament statistics
Matches played77

The 2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational was the preseason tournament for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2026 season and the fourth edition of the MPBL Preseason Invitational. The tournament started on February 7, 2026, and ended on March 21.

This is the first preseason tournament since 2021 that the tournament will be held outside General Santos City. The last two editions were held at the Lagao Gymnasium, and this will be the first time in the pocket tournament that the league will be using multiple venues.

The 2026 edition will return to a bigger-scale tournament similar to the 2021 Invitational, with 18 teams set to compete in this tournament, including 17 member teams and a selection team from the Junior MPBL D-League.

The Abra Solid North Weavers were the tournament champions after defeating the Quezon Huskers with a score of 67–47 in the final tournament.[1]

Teams

A total of eighteen teams competed in the tournament, the second-most behind the 2021 edition's 22 teams. These include seventeen MPBL teams, as well as the Junior MPBL D-League Team, the league's second-ever guest team after Gensan Bulalakaw. Making their first Invitational appearances are the Abra Solid North Weavers, Quezon Huskers, Pasay Voyagers, and the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys. With the exit of the Valenzuela franchise in the preseason tournament, the GenSan Warriors remain the only team to never miss a preseason appearance.

List of 2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational teams
Team Invitational statistics 2025 season statistics
Apps. Last Best result Record Playoff result
Abra Solid North Weavers 1 N/a 28–1 (.966) Champion
Bacolod Masskara 2 2021 Group stage 4–25 (.138) –
Bataan Risers 2 2024 Group stage 13–16 (.448) Clinched play-in; did not make playoffs
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 3 2024 Third Place 20–9 (.690) Division semifinals
Biñan Tatak Gel 2 2024 Group Stage 17–12 (.586) Division finals
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 2 2021 Group stage 21–8 (.724) Division semifinals
Ilagan Isabela Cowboys 1 N/a 15–14 (.517) Division quarterfinals
GenSan Warriors 4 2024 Runner-up 18–11 (.621) Division semifinals
Junior MPBL D-League Team (guest team) 1 N/a
Marikina Shoemasters 2 2021 Group Stage 4–25 (.138) –
Mindoro Tamaraws 2 2021 Quarterfinals 15–14 (.517) Division quarterfinals
Muntinlupa Cagers 2 2021 Group Stage 10–19 (.345) –
Pasay Voyagers 1 N/a 21–8 (.724) Division quarterfinals
Quezon Huskers 1 N/a 25–4 (.862) National finals
Quezon City Black Bulls 2 2024 Fourth Place 7–22 (.241) –
San Juan Knights 2 2021 Quarterfinals 26–3 (.897) Division semifinals
Sarangani 10Act 3 2023 Fourth Place 11–18 (.379) –
Zamboanga Sikat 2 2023 Runner-up 17–12 (.586) Division quarterfinals
Notes

Format

The tournament will be divided into two stages: the group stage and the playoffs. The eighteen participating teams were divided into two groups of nine. Both groups play in a single round-robin format, wherein each team plays one game against all other teams within the same group. The top three teams in each group advance to a six-team, three-round, single-elimination playoff consisting of all knockout games.

For the first time in the Preseason Invitational, the Battle for Third will not be held.

Teams that will advance to the preseason finals will have their tournament fee waived for the 2026 MPBL season. Those who will advance to the playoffs will receive a 50 percent discount.[2]

Venues

Group Stage Group Stage and Semifinals Group Stage
Bataan Risers Biñan Tatak Gel Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Marikina Shoemasters Pasay Voyagers
Orion Sports Complex
Orion, Bataan		 Alonte Sports Arena
Biñan, Laguna		 Caloocan Sports Complex
Caloocan		 Marikina Sports Center
Marikina		 Cuneta Astrodome
Pasay
Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 6,500 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 12,000
Knockout Round
San Juan Knights
Playtime Filoil Centre
San Juan
Capacity: 6,000
Finals Group Stage
Neutral
Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center
San Fernando, Pampanga		 One Arena
Cainta, Rizal		 Paco Arena
Manila
Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 1,000

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L GB Qualification
1 Abra Solid North Weavers 8 8 0 — Semifinals
2 Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 8 6 2 2 Knockout Round
3 Mindoro Tamaraws 8 5[a] 3 3
4 GenSan Warriors 8 5[a] 3 3
5 Biñan Tatak Gel 8 5[a] 3 3
6 Quezon City Black Bulls 8 4 4 4
7 Bataan Risers 8 2 6 6
8 Bacolod Masskara 8 1 7 7
9 Sarangani 10Act 8 0 8 8
Source:
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. 1 2 3 Mindoro (1.050) wins tiebreaker over Gensan (0.993) and Biñan (0.967) based on head-to-head point quotient.

Results table

TeamGame
12345678
Abra
(ABR)		SAR
102–88		BAN
81–69		BCD
93–69		QC
88–73		MDR
111–98		BIÑ (A)
73–70*		BTG
77–69		GSW
81–67
Bacolod
(BCD)		ABR
69–93		BTG
49–106		QC
66–77		SAR
82–74		GSW
74–112		MDR
70–90		BIÑ
74–128		BAN
82–129
Bataan
(BAN)		BTG
60–77		ABR
69–81		MDR
78–86		GSW
79–94		SAR (H)
95–80		QC
79–80		BIÑ (A)
68–75		BCD
129–82
Batangas City
(BTG)		BAN
77–60		MDR
88–58		GSW
100–80		BCD
106–49		SAR
106–78		QC
69–70		BIÑ (A)
74–58		ABR
69–77
Biñan
(BIÑ)		MDR
65–79		GSW
83–74		SAR
101–78		QC (H)
74–65		ABR (H)
70–73*		BTG (H)
58–74		BAN (H)
75–68		BCD
128–74
General Santos
(GSW)		BIÑ
74–83		BTG
80–100		BAN
94–79		MDR
74–67		BCD
112–74		SAR
113–81		QC
70–66		ABR
67–81
Mindoro
(MDR)		BIÑ
79–65		BTG
58–88		BAN
86–78		ABR
98–111		GSW
67–74		SAR
112–92		QC
69–67		BCD
90–70
Quezon City
(QC)		SAR
78–74		ABR
73–88		BIÑ (A)
65–74		BCD
77–66		BTG
70–69		BAN
80–79		MDR
67–69		GSW
66–70
Sarangani
(SAR)		ABR
88–102		QC
74–78		BIÑ
78–101		BTG
78–106		BAN (A)
80–95		BCD
74–82		MDR
92–112		GSW
81–113
Source:
Legend: Blue = win; Red = loss; Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime. (*) Number of asterisks denotes number of overtime periods
Notes
  • 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.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L GB Qualification
1 Quezon Huskers 8 7[a] 1 — Semifinals
2 San Juan Knights 8 7[a] 1 — Knockout Round
3 Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 8 6 2 1
4 Muntinlupa Cagers 8 4[b] 4 3
5 Pasay Voyagers 8 4[b] 4 3
6 Zamboanga Sikat 8 4[b] 4 3
7 Ilagan Isabela Cowboys 8 3 5 4
8 Marikina Shoemasters 8 1 7 6
9 Junior MPBL D-League Team 8 0 8 7
Source:
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. 1 2 Quezon wins tiebreaker over San Juan based on head-to-head matchup.
  2. 1 2 3 Muntinlupa (1.052) wins tiebreaker over Pasay (1.000) and Zamboanga (0.954) based on head-to-head point quotient.

Results table

TeamGame
12345678
Caloocan
(CAL)		MUN (H)
74–66		SJK
59–65		PSY (A)
71–63		MAR (A)
100–89		ILA
85–65		QZN
74–60		ZAM (H)
76–81		DLG (H)
80–63
D-League
(DLG)		QZN
80–116		MUN
67–94		ILA
72–90		SJK
59–122		PSY
60–79		MAR
79–84		CAL (A)
63–80		ZAM
75–104
Ilagan Isabela
(ILA)		PSY
69–76		SJK
82–85		MAR (A)
99–95*		DLG
90–72		QZN
64–85		CAL
65–85		ZAM
78–63		MUN
73–75
Marikina
(MAR)		SJK
75–86		QZN
79–85		ZAM
84–89		ILA (H)
95–99*		CAL (H)
89–100		DLG
84–79		MUN
79–87		PSY
69–75
Muntinlupa
(MUN)		CAL (A)
66–74		DLG
94–67		QZN
76–90		ZAM
86–73		PSY
56–62		SJK
73–81		MAR
87–79		ILA
75–73
Pasay
(PSY)		ILA
76–69		CAL (H)
63–71		MUN
62–56		DLG
79–60		QZN
68–74		MAR
75–69		SJK (H)
64–86		ZAM
67–73
Quezon
(QZN)		DLG
116–80		MAR
85–79		MUN
90–76		ILA
85–64		CAL
60–74		PSY
74–68		ZAM
83–73		SJK
72–69
San Juan
(SJK)		MAR
86–75		CAL
65–59		ILA
85–82		ZAM
116–73		DLG
122–59		MUN
81–73		QZN
69–72		PSY (A)
86–64
Zamboanga
(ZAM)		MAR
89–84		MUN
73–86		SJK
73–116		ILA
63–78		CAL (A)
81–76		QZN
73–83		DLG
104–75		PSY
73–67
Source:
Legend: Blue = win; Red = loss; Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime. (*) Number of asterisks denotes number of overtime periods
Notes
  • 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.

Playoffs

The playoffs started on March 17 with knockout games and the semifinals on March 19. The finals was held on March 21.

Bracket

Knockout RoundSemifinalsFinals
A1Abra76
B2San Juan68B2San Juan72
B3Caloocan66A1Abra67
B1Quezon47
B1Quezon76
A2Batangas City85A2Batangas City69
A3Mindoro74

Knockout Round

NOTE: All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
March 17
5:00 p.m.
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 85–74 Mindoro Tamaraws
Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 22–17, 22–10, 23–27
Pts: Jhan Nermal 19
Rebs: Dawn Ochea 11
Asts: Abdul Sawat 5		 Pts: JC Recto 21
Rebs: JJ Caspe 10
Asts: JC Recto 5
March 17
7:00 p.m.
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 66–68 San Juan Knights
Scoring by quarter: 25–11, 18–25, 9–15, 14–17
Pts: Jeramer Cabanag, Joco Tayongtong 10
Rebs: Jielo Razon 10
Asts: Kean Baclaan 5		 Pts: Harold Alarcon 23
Rebs: Michael Calisaan 10
Asts: Patrick Sleat 4

Semifinals

March 19
5:00 p.m.
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 69–76 Quezon Huskers
Scoring by quarter: 15–30, 31–15, 15–15, 8–16
Pts: Wendelino Comboy 23
Rebs: Kraniel Villoria 9
Asts: three players 3		 Pts: Michael Cañete, Judel Fuentes 15
Rebs: Cedrick Manzano 12
Asts: Judel Fuentes 4
March 19
7:00 p.m.
San Juan Knights 72–76 Abra Solid North Weavers
Scoring by quarter: 11–15, 26–11, 21–32, 14–18
Pts: Patrick Sleat 19
Rebs: Patrick Sleat 7
Asts: Orlan Wamar Jr. 7		 Pts: Encho Serrano 18
Rebs: Dave Ildefonso 10
Asts: Mike Ayonayon 6

Finals

March 21
7:00 p.m.
Quezon Huskers 47–67 Abra Solid North Weavers
Scoring by quarter: 17–17, 9–11, 16–24, 5–15
Pts: Michael Cañete, Cedrick Manzano 12
Rebs: Cedrick Manzano 16
Asts: Christian Pagaran 4		 Pts: Raven Gonzales 14
Rebs: Raven Gonzales 9
Asts: Dave Ildefonso 5

References

  1. ↑ "Abra trounces Quezon, bags MPBL Preseason crown". Manila Standard. March 22, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ "MPBL's preseason tourney slated February". Philstar.com. January 19, 2026. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
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