2021 MPBL Invitational
The 2021 MPBL Invitational, officially known as the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational powered by TM for sponsorship reasons, is an invitational tournament that serves as the prelude to the 2022–23 MPBL season.[1] It commenced on December 11, 2021 and is set to end on December 23, 2021.[2] The tournament is also the first for the MPBL since it was granted professional status by the Games and Amusements Board.[3] The Invitational will also be the first professional sports event in the Philippines to allow live audiences since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, with the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, the venue for the tournament, only allowed to be at 50 percent capacity.[4]
| 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational powered by TM | |||
 | |||
| Dates | December 11–23, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship venue | Mall of Asia Arena | ||
| Teams | 22 | ||
| Attendance | TBA | ||
| |||
| 2022–23 MPBL season | |||
Format
The format for this tournament is as follows:
- All teams will be divided into four groups playing in a single round-robin.
- The top two teams in each group will advance to the single elimination-style playoffs.
Prize money
The champion of this tournament will receive PHP 2-million. The runner-up will also receive PHP 500,000, and the third placer will receive PHP 250,000.[5]
Draw
The draw for the group stage took place on November 26, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Pasig,[6] at 3:00 p.m. PST (UTC+8), hosted by Mark Zambrano and Christian Luanzon. The 22 teams were drawn into four groups, two groups of six teams (Groups A and D) and two groups of five teams (Groups B and C). Basilan was the champion of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup and was automatically assigned to Group B as team B1. 2019–20 Lakan season runner-up San Juan was designated in Group C as team C1. The remaining 20 teams were determined by drawing of lots.
|
|
|
|
Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | — | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Iloilo United Royals | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1 | |
| 3 | All-Star Bacolod Ballers | 3 | 2 | .600 | 1.5 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Bacoor City Strikers | 1 | 3 | .250 | 3 | |
| 5 | Caloocan Excellence | 1 | 3 | .250 | 3 | |
| 6 | Negros Muscovados | 0 | 3 | .000 | 3.5 |
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head matchup, 3) Head-to-head point differential 4) Record vs. the other group, 5) Overall point differential
Not all games are in home–away format. Each team plays every team once. Number of asterisks after each score denotes number of overtimes played.
Group B
| Pos | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basilan Jumbo Plastic | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | — | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Bicol Volcanoes | 3 | 1 | .750 | — | |
| 3 | Makati FSD Blazers | 2 | 1 | .667 | 0.5 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Marikina Shoe City | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 | |
| 5 | Laguna Heroes Krah Asia | 0 | 3 | .000 | 2.5 |
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head matchup, 3) Head-to-head point differential 4) Record vs. the other group, 5) Overall point differential
Not all games are in home–away format. Each team plays every team once. Number of asterisks after each score denotes number of overtimes played.
Group C
| Pos | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Juan Knights | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | — | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.5 | |
| 3 | Valenzuela MJAS Zenith | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Sarangani Marlins | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2 | |
| 5 | Muntinlupa Cagers | 0 | 3 | .000 | 3 |
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head matchup, 3) Head-to-head point differential 4) Record vs. the other group, 5) Overall point differential
Not all games are in home–away format. Each team plays every team once. Number of asterisks after each score denotes number of overtimes played.
Group D
| Pos | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manila Stars | 3 | 1 | .750 | — | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Imus Bandera | 3 | 1 | .750 | — | |
| 3 | Mindoro Tamaraws - EOG Sports | 3 | 1 | .750 | — | Eliminated |
| 4 | Emkai-Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 | |
| 5 | GenSan Warriors | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 | |
| 6 | Bulacan Kuyas | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head matchup, 3) Head-to-head point differential 4) Record vs. the other group, 5) Overall point differential
Not all games are in home–away format. Each team plays every team once. Number of asterisks after each score denotes number of overtimes played.
Championship bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| December 21 | ||||||||||
| A1 | ||||||||||
| December 22 | ||||||||||
| C2 | ||||||||||
| Winner Q1 | ||||||||||
| December 21 | ||||||||||
| Winner Q2 | ||||||||||
| B1 | ||||||||||
| December 23 | ||||||||||
| D2 | ||||||||||
| Winner SF1 | ||||||||||
| December 21 | ||||||||||
| Winner SF2 | ||||||||||
| C1 | ||||||||||
| December 22 | ||||||||||
| A2 | ||||||||||
| Winner Q3 | ||||||||||
| December 21 | ||||||||||
| Winner Q4 | 3rd place | |||||||||
| D1 | ||||||||||
| December 23 | ||||||||||
| B2 | ||||||||||
| Loser SF1 | ||||||||||
| Loser SF2 | ||||||||||
Broadcast
The Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is the broadcast partner for the 2021 MPBL Invitational every night. Games will also be streamed on the MPBL and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Facebook pages.[7] TAP Sports will broadcast the games and also available on TAP Go.[8]
References
- "MPBL reboots with packed Invitational". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- Terrado, Reuben (16 November 2021). "MOA Arena set to host MPBL pocket tournament". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- "MPBL officially turns professional". Manila Bulletin. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- "MPBL will welcome back fans in MOA pocket tournament, says Duremdes". Spin.ph. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- "MPBL Invitational champion to get P2-million prize". Rappler. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- Saldajeno, Ivan (27 November 2021). "PHP2-M awaits MPBL Invitational champ". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- Terrado, Reuben (2 December 2021). "Where to watch the MPBL Invitational games". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- "TAP GO". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
