MIKE PHILLIPS | MPBL STATS

Even at 67 years old, Distrito isn’t someone you mess with. I won’t get into his past controversies, but it’s clear he knows how to spot a questionable move when he sees one.

Pampanga is one of the MPBL's best teams of all time. Led by Justine Baltazar and coach Delta Pineda, the team whooped everyone's ass with gameplay a notch above everyone else.

Over the years, I’ve been extremely critical of players leaving their schools to transfer elsewhere. For me, it only makes sense if the player isn’t getting any playing time. Otherwise, transferring just means sitting out at least a year of televised action—and a full year of development that could have helped boost their draft stock. Now that the UAAP has stretched the residency rule to two years, it feels even more impractical. Imagine moving from one UAAP team to another,

For most students, that makes perfect sense. Finish school first, then the real career opportunities follow. But for elite athletes, that logic doesn’t always apply.

I pulled a bunch of stats straight from the MPBL website to highlight the league’s most recognizable stars, whether they’re true homegrown talents or guys who were recently drafted or are now making waves in the PBA.

Over the years, MPBL has produced its own legends, players whose names are inseparable from winning, consistency, and cultural impact.

This is not just about who was the best on paper, but who truly defined MPBL basketball.

Kean Baclaan has decided to forgo his final UAAP year and turn pro with the MPBL’s Caloocan Batang Kankaloo.

The gutting of MPBL teams has already begun, with the remaining squads feasting on the remnants of what were once the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the Pangasinan Heat Waves, and other teams that may or may not suit up for the seventh MPBL season.

To anticipate the MPBL's seventh season, I locked in the idea to come up with a Top 20 Greatest MPBL Players list. I’m hoping to finish it by the end of January.

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | QUEZON CITY GALERIES TAIPAN

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | MARIKINA SHOEMASTERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | MANILA BATANG QUIAPO

The PBA issued a directive stating that it would not allow players with existing contracts to join the PBA Draft.

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | IMUS BRADERHOOD

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BULACAN KUYAS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | PARANAQUE PATRIOTS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BACOLOD TUBO SLASHERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | VAL CITY MAGIC

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | SARANGANI GRIPPER MOTORCYCLE TIRE

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | DAVAO OCCIDENTAL TIGERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | PASAY CITY

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | MUNTINLUPA CAGERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | MINDORO TAMARAWS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | CEBU GREATS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | ILIGAN ISABELA COWBOYS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BATAAN RISERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BASILAN STARHORSE

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BINAN TATAK GEL

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | BATANGAS CITY TANDUAY RUM MASTERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | CALOOCAN BATANG KANKALOO

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | PAMPANGA GIANT LANTERNS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | ZAMBOANGA SIKAT

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | PASAY VOYAGERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | PANGASINAN HEAT WAVES

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | RIZAL GOLDEN COOLERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | GENSAN WARRIORS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | QUEZON HUSKERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | ABRA WEAVERS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | NUEVA ECIJA RICE VANGUARDS

2025 MPBL SEASON STATS | SAN JUAN KNIGHTS

So I put this together to satisfy the OCD in me and to keep everything in proper perspective.

The 2025 MPBL Finals are in the books, and the Abra Weavers didn’t just win a championship—they proved they’re a cut above everyone else in the league.