National Basketball League (Philippines)
The National Basketball League (NBL), also known as NBL–Philippines or NBL–Pilipinas, is a regional professional basketball league in the Philippines.
Current season, competition or edition: 2021 NBL–Philippines season | |
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 7, 2018 |
| Inaugural season | 2018 |
| President | Celso "Soy" Mercado |
| Commissioner | John Edward Aquino |
| Motto | Ang Tahanan ng Tunay Na Homegrown (transl. The Home of True Homegrown) |
| No. of teams | 11 (as of 2021 season) |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Pampanga Delta (2nd title) |
| Most titles | Pampanga Delta (2 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | Solar Sports |
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 | Team governor | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damayang Filipino Bulacan Republicans | Malolos, Bulacan | Gov. Daniel Fernando Romeo Cardenas |
Paul John Macapagal |
| Cam Sur Express[lower-alpha 1] | Naga, Camarines Sur |
||
| Laguna Pistons | Santa Rosa, Laguna Biñan, Laguna |
Amirh Moghadassi | Edmon Fontillas |
| La Union PAOwer | San Fernando, La Union | Pablo Ortega | Louie Aquino |
| Mindoro Tamaraws Disiplinados | Oriental Mindoro | Humerlito Dolor | Bengie Teodoro |
| Muntinlupa Water Warriors | Muntinlupa, Metro Manila |
Angelito Alvarez | Siefred Levita |
| Pampanga Delta | San Fernando, Pampanga | Charlie Chua | Dennis Pineda |
| Parañaque Aces | Parañaque, Metro Manila |
Marvin Santos | Stephen Morepa |
| Quezon Barons | Lucena, Quezon |
Danilo Suarez | Jonas Guiao, Jr. |
| Stan District 4 SparTANs | Quezon | Helen Tan | Carmelo Alas |
| Taguig Generals | Taguig, Metro Manila |
Lino Cayetano | Bing Victoria |
- Notes
- The CamSur Express took a leave of absence for the 2021 season.
  Aces Rising Stars Generals Bandila NBL Teams in Metro Manila & Cavite |
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Former teams
| Team | Town/City/Province | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulacan Starks - McDavid | Malolos, Bulacan | Malolos Sports and Convention Center STI College Malolos Gym |
2,000 1,000 |
| Bulacan Makabayan | Baliuag, Bulacan | Baliwag Star Arena | 5,000 |
| Imus Bandila | Imus, Cavite | Imus Sports Complex | 1,000 |
| Iriga City Oragons | Iriga City, Camarines Sur Naga, Camarines Sur |
Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum | ~12,000 |
| One Cainta Titan | Cainta, Rizal | N/A | N/A |
| Nueva Ecija Rice Makers | San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija |
San Leonardo Sports Gym | 5,000 |
| Rizal Nationals | Antipolo, Rizal | N/A | N/A |
| Pasig Rios - Gameville | Pasig, Metro Manila | MetroAsia Arena | N/A |
| Quezon City Rising Stars | Quezon City | Camp Crame Gym | 1,000 |
| Zambales Converge Fiber X-Men | Botolan, Zambales | Botolan People's Plaza | 1,000 |
| Nueva Ecija Besprens | San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija |
San Leonardo Sports Gym | 5,000 |
| Pasig El Pirata - Jekasa Sportswear | Pasig, Metro Manila |
N/A | N/A |
| Cavite Ballers | Dasmariñas, Cavite | De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Ugnayang La Salle Gym & Animo Center Philippine Christian University - Dasmariñas Gym |
2,000 3,000 |
| Quezon City Defenders | Quezon City, Metro Manila |
Philadelphia High School Gym Pace Academy Gym AFP Wellness Center |
N/A |
| Lifenet Caloocan Executives | Caloocan, Metro Manila |
N/A | N/A |
| Marikina Best Shoemakers | Marikina, Metro Manila |
Marikina Sports Center Jesus Dela Pena Gym |
7,000 N/A |
| Zamboanga Valientes | Zamboanga City Zamboanga del Sur |
N/A | N/A |
List of champions
| Season | Champion | Series | Runner-Up | Season MVP | 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 | Converge Pampanga Delta | 3-1 | La Union PAOwer | Clifton James Gania | Converge Pampanga Delta |
| 2021 | Pampanga Delta | 2-0 | La Union PAOwer | Florencio "Encho" Serrano | Pampanga Delta |
| 2022 |
Official broadcasters
Solar Sports is the official broadcaster of the game and airs 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.
References
- Boehler, Dave. "Another cage league rises: NBL envisions self as 'land of opportunity' for Pinoy ballers". Spin.ph. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- "Focus on grassroots as another league set for launch". Spin.ph. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- Go, Beatrice. "National Basketball League opens opportunities for homegrown talents". Rappler. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020
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