MPBL Preseason Invitational

For the most recent tournament, see 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational.
"MPBL Invitational" redirects here. For the inaugural edition, see 2021 MPBL Invitational.

MPBL Preseason Invitational
Founded2021
Number of teamsvaries
Current championsAbra Solid North Weavers
(2026)
Most championshipsfour teams (1 title each)
2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational

The MPBL Preseason Invitational is a preseason tournament held before the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) regular season. The tournament was first held in 2021, intended to make up for the long gap between the 2019–20 and 2022 seasons. The Preseason Invitational returned with a smaller eight-team format in 2023 and 2024. After a hiatus in 2025, the event is set to make a comeback in 2026, returning to a bigger-scale tournament.

History

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to temporarily suspend league play on March 12, 2020, in the midst of its 2020 playoffs. The league also cancelled its plans to start its fourth season in June of that year and instead aimed for a return in June 2021, which also didn't push through.[1][2]

As the league began its transition to professional status, it also looked to start an invitational tournament in December.[3] On November 16, 2021, during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, league commissioner Kenneth Duremdes formally announced the Invitational as the league settled on starting its fourth season in 2022. The tournament would also be supervised by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and monitored by FIBA.[4]

The 2021 MPBL Invitational went underway on December 11, 2021. It was the first event of the MPBL under professional status.[5] The entire tournament was held at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and fans were allowed in the arena at 50-percent capacity, though tickets were only provided to the participating teams to give to fans.[6] The inaugural tournament featured 22 teams and was won by Basilan Jumbo Plastic.[7]

The Invitational has since become the league's preseason tournament in the seasons that followed. The next two editions of the Invitational (2023 and 2024) took place at Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos. The tournament is now held every February to align with the city's Kalilangan Festival. This is also the only event in the league's calendar to feature guest teams. Since 2023, the GenSan Bulalakaw, a General Santos-based club, have become a regular competitors at the tournament. Now renamed as the MPBL Preseason Invitational, the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines won the 2023 edition while the Pampanga Giant Lanterns won the 2024 edition.[8][9]

On January 23, 2025, the league announced that it would cancel plans to hold a preseason tournament for the 2025 season. Exactly one year later, on January 23, 2026, the league announced the event's comeback with the 2026 Preseason Invitational, returning to a bigger-scale format with 18 teams expected to compete from February 7 to March 21. Unlike previous Invitationals, games during the 2026 edition are set to be held in venues across Mega Manila, rather than a single venue throughout.[10][11]

Format

The format of the Preseason Invitational follows that of traditional FIBA tournaments. Since 2023, each tournament consists of eight teams that are divided into two groups of four teams. Each team plays one game against each team from within the same group. The top two teams advance to the single-elimination playoffs, where the top four positions are settled.[12]

Prize pot

The Preseason Invitational also features a prize pot, which is included in every tournament to date. In 2021, only the top three teams were given prize money.[13] This was changed in 2023 so that every team is given prize money.[14]

In 2026, instead of a prize pot, the six teams that will make the playoffs will have their entry fees for the 2026 MPBL season cut in half. The two teams that will make the finals will have their entry fees waived by the league.[10]

Rank 2021[13] 2023[14] 2024[15][9]
1st ₱2,000,000 ₱3,000,000 ₱1,500,000
2nd ₱500,000
3rd ₱250,000 ₱300,000
4th N/a ₱200,000
5th–8th N/a ₱100,000 ₱125,000

List of tournaments

Year City Venue Finalists Semifinalists Ref.
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Score Fourth place
2021 Pasay SM Mall of Asia Arena Basilan Jumbo Plastic 83–80
(OT)		 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors 100–80 Imus Buracai de Laiya [7]
2023 General Santos Lagao Gymnasium Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines 88–80 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Imus SV Squad 93–76 Sarangani Marlins [8]
2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns 93–75 South Cotabato Warriors Batangas City Athletics 68–60 Quezon City Toda Aksyon [9]
2026 Mega Manila Various venues Abra Solid North Weavers 67–47 Quezon Huskers Not held

References

  1. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (June 1, 2020). "MPBL cancels 2020–2021 season". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (May 28, 2021). "MPBL mulls closed-circuit setup for late August opening". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Chooks-to-Go MPBL set to turn pro, removes Fil-for restrictions". Tiebreaker Times. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Giongco, Mark (November 16, 2021). "MPBL to hold 22-team tournament at MOA Arena to kick off return". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "MPBL officially turns professional". Manila Bulletin. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "MPBL will welcome back fans in MOA pocket tournament, says Duremdes". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Leongson, Randolph (December 22, 2021). "Manalang trey at the buzzer lifts Basilan past N Ecija in MPBL Finals". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Zamboanga rules MPBL Preseason Cup". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Baltazar, Serrano lead Pampanga to MPBL Preseason crown". Tiebreaker Times. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "16 teams duke it out in 2026 MPBL preseason tourney". The Philippine Star. January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  11. ^ "MPBL's preseason tourney slated February". Philstar.com. January 19, 2026. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  12. ^ "MPBL welcomes Quezon Province, Negros Muscovados". Manila Bulletin. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "MPBL Invitational champion to get P2-million prize". Rappler. November 26, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "P3M at stake in MPBL preseason joust". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "MPBL preseason starts in GenSan". Philstar.com. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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