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    North Division (MPBL)

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 10 min

    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 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

    [edit]
    Pos Team
    • v
    • t
    • e
    		 Pld W L GB
    1 x – Abra Solid North Weavers 23 22 1 —
    2 q – Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 22 21 1 0.5
    3 q – San Juan Knights 23 21 2 1
    4 q – Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 23 16[a] 7 6
    5 q – Pampanga Giant Lanterns 23 16[a] 7 6
    6 q – Pasay Voyagers 24 16 8 6.5
    7 q – Pangasinan Heatwaves 22 15 7 6.5
    8 Ilagan Isabela Cowboys 23 12 11 10
    9 e – Bataan Risers 23 9 14 13
    10 e – Pasig City 22 8 14 13.5
    11 e – Quezon City Galeries Taipan 23 6 17 16
    12 e – Val City Magic 23 5 18 17
    13 e – Marikina Shoemasters 23 4 19 18
    14 e – Bulacan Kuyas 23 3 20 19
    15 e – Manila Batang Quiapo 22 2 20 19.5
    Updated to match(es) played on August 16, 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.
    e – Eliminated from direct playoff qualification; can still clinch play-in berth; q – Qualified for postseason; can clinch direct playoff berth; x – Clinched direct playoff berth
    Notes:
    1. ^ a b Caloocan wins tiebreaker over Pampanga based on head-to-head match-up.

    Teams

    [edit]

    Current

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
    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
    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

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]

    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

    [edit]
    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: Expansion side Nueva Ecija was placed in the North Division while Mandaluyong departed from the league. Marikina, Parañaque, and Rizal joined from the South Division.
    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: Bulacan, Navotas, Parañaque, and Pasay departed from the league. Rizal was realigned back to the South Division.
    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: Returning sides Bulacan, Parañaque, and Pasay were placed in the North Division. Rizal rejoined from the South Division.[3]
    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: Expansion sides Abra, Pangasinan, and Tarlac were placed in the North Division while Makati and Pasig departed from the league. Parañaque was realigned back to the South Division. Tarlac was pulled out before playing their first game of the season.
    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

    [edit]

    Nueva Ecija vs. Pampanga

    [edit]
    Main article: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–Pampanga Giant Lanterns rivalry

    Nueva Ecija vs. San Juan

    [edit]
    Main article: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–San Juan Knights rivalry

    Pampanga vs. San Juan

    [edit]
    Main article: Pampanga Giant Lanterns–San Juan Knights rivalry

    References

    [edit]
    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.
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