National Basketball League (NBL)
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 NBL–Pilipinas Chairman's Cup
SportBasketball
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
First season2018
PresidentCelso "Soy" Mercado
CommissionerJohn Edward Aquino
MottoAng Tahanan ng Tunay Na Homegrown
(transl. The Home of the True Homegrown)
No. of teams7
CountryPhilippines
ContinentFIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent
champion(s)		Taguig Generals (4th title)
Most titlesTaguig Generals
(4 titles)
TV partner(s)ALIW 23
Official websitehttp://nblp.web.geniussports.com/

The National Basketball League (NBL), also known as NBL–Pilipinas, is a men's regional professional basketball league in the Philippines.

History

On June 7, 2018, Celso "Soy" Mercado established the league and named National Basketball League Philippines to search undiscovered talents.

The league will feature an away-and-home format and will focus on giving homegrown players (aged 18–29 years old and a bonafide resident of the team's province, city or municipality) an opportunity to showcase their skills in the hope of making it to the professional and semi-professional leagues.[1][2]

The league began its inaugural season on August 25, 2018, with 10 teams from Luzon. Games were played every Saturdays and Sundays.[3] The Parañaque Aces became the league's first champions after defeating the Dasmariñas Ballers in the best-of-three championship round.

In 2019, the league expanded to 15 teams, while two of the founding teams folded (Marikina Shoemakers and Bulacan Makabayan). The Women's National Basketball League began their inaugural season on April 7, 2019.

The league's youth division, named NBL-Youth, began its season on May 20, 2019.

NBL Philippines Season 3 opened November 16, 2019, with 14 teams competing. (only Bulacan, Iriga, Rizal, Zambales, Imus & Cainta begged off from competing, while Marikina Best Shoemakers are returning to the league after a year absence)

On August 26, 2020. The Games and Amusements Board have accepted the NBL and WNBL's application to become a professional league. Both leagues will start its first season as a professional league in 2021.[4]

After getting the green light to start from the Games and Amusements Board, the first professional season of the NBL began on July 18, 2021, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.

Teams

Team Locality Arena Capacity Team governor Head coach
Biñan Tatak Gel Biñan, Laguna Alonte Sports Arena 1,000 Hon. Angelo Alonte Almer Almazora
CamSur Express Camarines Sur Fuerte Sports Complex N/A Engr. Solomon Ngo Genesis Molto
Makati Circus Music Festival Makati Makati Coliseum 12,000 Bryan Beran Bryan Beran
Muntinlupa Chiefs Muntinlupa N/A N/A N/A Jonald Mabasa
Santa Rosa Eridanus Santa Rosa, Laguna Dominican College Gymnasium N/A Edwina Olivar Eric Camson
Taguig City Generals Taguig Cong. Jun Duenas Gymnasium N/A Lani Cayetano Bing Victoria
Zambales Eruption Zambales N/A N/A Alex Chivas Español Elgin Espina

Previous teams

Team Locality Arena Capacity First season Last season
Bulacan Starks - McDavid Bulacan Malolos Sports and Convention Center
STI College Malolos Gym 		2,000
1,000 		2019 2019
Bulacan Makabayan Bulacan Baliwag Star Arena 5,000 2018 2018
Cagayan Valley Water Buffalos Cagayan Valley none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup
Cavite Ballers Cavite De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Ugnayang La Salle Gym & Animo Center
Philippine Christian University - Dasmariñas Gym 		2,000
3,000 		2018 2019-20 President's Cup
Damayang Filipino Bulacan Stars Bulacan Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium 5,000 2021 2023 President's Cup
FSD Makati Defenders Makati none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup
Imus Bandila Imus, Cavite Imus Sports Complex 1,000 2019 2019
Iriga City Oragons Iriga, Camarines Sur Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum ~12,000 2019 2019
La Union Paower La Union San Juan Gymnasium (La Union) N/A 2019-20 President's Cup
2022 Chairman's Cup (Rejoined) 		2022 Chairman's Cup
Laguna Kings Laguna none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup
Laguna Pistons Laguna Santa Rosa Sports Complex 5,700 2018 2022 President's Cup
Las Piñas Lodis Las Piñas none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup
Las Piñas Oil Machine Las Piñas none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup
Lifenet Caloocan Executives Caloocan none none 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup
Luid Kapampangan Pampanga AUF Sports and Cultural Center
Colegio de Sebastian Gymnasium 		2,000
1,400 		2023 President's Cup 2023 President's Cup
Marikina Best Shoemakers Marikina Marikina Sports Center 7,000 2018
2019-20 President's Cup (Rejoined) 		2018 (Marikina Shoemakers)
2019-20 President's Cup
Mindoro Tamaraws Disiplinados Mindoro none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2021 Chairman's Cup
Muntinlupa Constructicons Muntinlupa none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup
Muntinlupa Water Warriors Muntinlupa none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2023 President's Cup (as Muntinlupa)
Narvacan Panthers Narvacan none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup
Nueva Ecija Bespren Nueva Ecija San Leonardo Sports Gym 5,000 2018 (Go Bespren)
2019-20 President's Cup 		2018 (Go Bespren)
2019-20 President's Cup
Nueva Ecija Rice Makers Nueva Ecija San Leonardo Sports Gym 5,000 2019 2019
One Cainta Titans Cainta, Rizal One Arena N/A 2019 2019
Parañaque Aces Parañaque none none 2018 2022 President's Cup
Pasig El Pirata - Jekasa Sportswear Pasig none none 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup
Rizal Nationals Rizal Antipolo Sports Hub 900 2018 2019 (only 2 games)
Pampanga Delta Pampanga Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 3,000 2019 2022 Chairman's Cup
Pasig Rios - Gameville Pasig MetroAsia Arena N/A 2019 2019
Santa Rosa Lions Santa Rosa, Laguna Santa Rosa Sports Complex 5,700 2022 President's Cup 2023 President's Cup
Quezon Barons Quezon none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2022 President's Cup
Quezon City All-Stars Quezon City none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup
Quezon City Defenders Quezon City Philadelphia High School Gym
Pace Academy Gym
AFP Wellness Center 		N/A 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup
Quezon City Rising Stars Quezon City N/A N/A 2018 2019
STAN District 4 Spartans Quezon none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2021 Chairman's Cup
Zambales Converge Fiber X-Men Zambales Botolan People's Plaza 1,000 2019 2019
Zamboanga Valientes Zamboanga Peninsula none none 2019 2021 Chairman's Cup

NBL Youth teams

10u Teams 12u Teams 14u Teams 16u Teams 19u Teams 21u Teams
Infinite Basketball Hotshots Basketball Infinite Basketball Alab Knights TGC Aces 4 Hoops G Mavs
KBA Luid Kapampangan KBA Luid Kapampangan KBA Luid Kapampangan Infinite Basketball Infinite Basketball Batang Norte
Troodons Sports Pilipinas Infinite Basketball Hotshots Basketball Junior Pistons A2Z SBL Cavite La Union Paower Hoopers
Yengskivel JBZ Zone 14 Lukkas Barber's The Rookie Basketball JILCF Red Arc Yengskivel JBZ Zone 14 VS Meycauayan
— The Rookie Basketball Yengskivel JBZ Zone 14 The Rookie Basketball — NKT Raging Boyz
— Yengskivel JBZ Zone 14 — Yengskivel JBZ Zone 14 — Makimira Kool Gals
— — — — — Muntinlupa

List of champions

Season / Tournament Champion Series Runner-Up Season MVP / Top performer Team
2018 Parañaque Aces 2–1 Dasmariñas Ballers John Cantimbuhan Dasmariñas Ballers
2019 Taguig Generals 2–0 Pampanga Delta Shinichi Manacsa Laguna Pistons
2019–20 President's Cup Converge Pampanga Delta 3–1 La Union PAOwer CJ Gania Converge Pampanga Delta
2021 Chairman's Cup Pampanga Delta (2) 2–0 La Union PAOwer Biboy Enguio Muntinlupa Water Warriors
2022 President's Cup Pampanga Delta (3) 2–0 Bulacan DF Republicans Joseph Celso Bulacan DF Republicans
2022 Chairman's Cup Taguig Generals (2) 2–0 La Union PAOwer Jap Pambid La Union PAOwer
2023 President's Cup Taguig Generals (3) 3–0 Luid Kapampangan Lhancer Khan Luid Kapampangan
2023 Chairman's Cup Taguig Generals (4) 3–0 CamSur Express Lerry John Mayo Taguig Generals
2024 President's Cup
2024 Chairman's Cup

NBL Youth champions

Season / Tournament Champion Score Runner-Up Season MVP / Top performer Team
2019 12U Dasmarinas Monarchs 64–57 Pampanga Jr. Delta N/A N/A
2019 17U Pampanga Jr. Delta 75–64 Dasmarinas Monarchs N/A N/A
2022 14U Pampanga Jr. Delta 69–43 Emeralds Academy N/A N/A
2022 16U 1st Conference United Ballers 76–75 Pampanga Jr. Delta N/A N/A
2022 16U 2nd Conference Emeralds Academy 64–62 Epson EDSCI Green Knights N/A N/A
2022 19U 1st Conference Pampanga Jr. Delta 85–70 Caloocan Yengskivel N/A N/A
2022 19U 2nd Conference Caloocan Yengskivel 93–83 Montalban N/A N/A
2023 10U
2023 12U (1st Tournament) Jr. KBA Luid Kapampangan 72–60 Hotshots Basketball Samuel Esomchi Jr. Muntinlupa
2023 12U (2nd Tournament)
2023 14U 1st Conference Luid ECP KGM Basic 109–107 Emeralds Academy John Denver Sison Luid ECP KGM Basic
2023 14U 2nd Conference Jr. Muntinlupa 96–90 Jr. KBA Luid Kapampangan Jhelo Lumague Hotshots Basketball
2023 14U 3rd Conference
2023 16U 1st Conference Microsmith Elite 84–52 McMafie Bruins Jhon Ken Atienza Microsmith Elite
2023 16U 2nd Conference JILCF Red Arc 90–87 EZ Jersey Bruins Erlan John Getigan Yengskivel
2023 16U 3rd Conference
2023 19U 1st Conference NAPPCO EZ Jersey Bruins 86–78 JILCF Red Arc Russell Ogana JILCF Red Arc
2023 19U 2nd Conference JILCF Red Arc 72–62 TGC Aces Patrick Rimbao San Ignacio Basketball
2023 19U 3rd Conference
2023 21U 1st Conference JRU Circus Music Festival 90–72 Luid Red Rose RAA Karl Bench De Jesus JRU Circus Music Festival
2023 21U 2nd Conference La Union PAOwer Hoopers 78–74 Quezon City Simos Jessie Boy Pineda La Union PAOwer Hoopers
2023 21U 3rd Conference

Official broadcasters

ALIW 23 is the official broadcaster of the NBL Games. Games are also livestreamed via the league's official Facebook and YouTube accounts.

The games were aired internationally via GMA Pinoy TV and streamed on the Net 25 Facebook page during seasons 2 and 3.

See also

References

  1. ^ Boehler, Dave. "Another cage league rises: NBL envisions self as 'land of opportunity' for Pinoy ballers". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "Focus on grassroots as another league set for launch". Spin.ph. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Go, Beatrice. "National Basketball League opens opportunities for homegrown talents". Rappler. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  4. ^ First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020
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