North Division (MPBL)

North Division
LeagueMaharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
SportBasketball
Founded2018
No. of teams14
Most recent
champions
Abra Weavers
(1st 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 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

Pos Team Pld W L GB
1 x – Abra Weavers 21 20 1 —
2 x – San Juan Knights 20 17[a] 3 2.5
3 x – Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 20 17[a] 3 2.5
4 q – Ilagan Isabela Cowboys 22 13 9 7.5
5 q – Meycauayan Marilao Gems 22 12 10 8.5
6 q – Pasay Voyagers 23 12 11 9
7 q – Pasig City 20 10 10 9.5
8 Quezon City Black Bulls 20 9 11 10.5
9 Bataan Risers 22 9 13 11.5
10 e – Valenzuela City Darkhorse 23 9 14 12
11 e – Marikina Shoemasters 22 6 16 14.5
12 e – Bulacan Kuyas 21 5 16 15
13 o – Parañaque Patriots 24 2 22 19.5
14 o – Manila Batang Quiapo 22 1 21 19.5
Updated to match(es) played on August 25, 2026. 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.
e – Eliminated from direct playoff qualification; can still clinch play-in berth; o – Eliminated from postseason contention; q – Qualified for postseason; can clinch direct playoff berth; x – Clinched playoff berth
Notes:
  1. 1 2 San Juan wins tiebreaker over Caloocan based on head-to-head match-up.

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 Inactive
Mandaluyong El Tigre Mandaluyong 2018–2019 Inactive
Navotas Clutch Navotas 2018–2020 Inactive
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Palayan, Nueva Ecija 2019–2025 Inactive
Pampanga Giant Lanterns San Fernando, Pampanga 2018–2025 Inactive
Pangasinan Heatwaves Rosales, Pangasinan 2024–2025 Inactive
Rizal Golden Coolers Antipolo, Rizal 2019–2020; 2023–2024 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)
2025 Abra
(1, 1–0)		 3–0 Pangasinan
(1, 0–1)

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
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th
  • 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)		 N/a N/a N/a
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)		 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
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)		 N/a
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)		 N/a
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)		 N/a

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. ↑ "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Louie Gonzalez finds new home as Ilagan Isabela Cowboys join MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
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