SYDRIFIED'S TOP 20 | MPBL PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME (2026 EDITION) PART 2

INTRO: https://www.project-sydrified.com/the-mpbl-top-20-project 

PART 1: https://www.project-sydrified.com/sydrified-s-top-20-mpbl-players-of-all-time-2026-edition-part-1 

PART 2: https://www.project-sydrified.com/sydrified-s-top-20-mpbl-players-of-all-time-2026-edition-part-2

The MPBL was never meant to be just another basketball competition.

It became a proving ground for former pros, late bloomers, local heroes, and overlooked talents who found relevance, pride, and identity playing for their cities.

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

This list ranks the Top 20 Best MPBL Players of All-Time, based on individual accolades, team success, longevity, production, and how much each player shaped the league during their peak. Championships matter, but so does carrying a franchise. Awards matter, but so does nightly reliability.

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

Game starts now.

10 | ARIS DIONISIO

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 1

ALL-MPBL SECOND TEAM | 1

ALL-STAR | 2

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | 1

STATS | 13.2PPG - 8.0RPG - 2.1APG - 1.6SPG - 2.4BPG | 67 GAMES

Aris Dionisio can be considered one of the MPBL’s first success stories in terms of using the league as a stepping stone toward the PBA. While he never won a championship, he consistently contributed to his teams and made an impact in every game he played. Dionisio made his mark in the league, earning an All-MPBL First and Second Team selection and the Defensive Player of the Year award during his two-year stint. The former St. Clare Saint's consistent performance opened doors to the PBA, where he was drafted 10th overall by the Magnolia Hotshots in 2019. While not the main go-to guy of Magnolia, he was selected for the All-Star Game, a testament to his skill and impact despite limited spotlight moments. Dionisio’s journey shows that with hard work and seizing opportunities, even players from smaller leagues can carve out a successful professional career.

9 | DAVE ILDEFONSO

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER | 1

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 1

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1

STATS | 17.3PPG - 7.5RPG - 3.6APG - 1.6SPG | 39 GAMES

Dave Ildefonso played only one season in the MPBL, which is why he ranks lower on this list despite his obvious talent. After a standout career with the Ateneo Blue Eagles and a stint overseas in the Korean Basketball League, he returned to the Philippines, aiming for the PBA. However, contract issues with Northport led him to the MPBL instead. Joining the Abra Solid North Weavers, Ildefonso immediately elevated the team, helping them rebound after a slow start and even break the Manila Metro Stars’ record for consecutive wins with 36. The second-generation baller's dominance earned him the MPBL MVP and led the Weavers to a championship, proving he was a cut above the rest of the competition.

And if he fulfills his contractual obligations with the Weavers, there’s no doubt his continued excellence could vault him into the upper ranks of the all-time list.

8 | CEDRICK ABLAZA

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 2

ALL-STAR | 4

STATS | 12.3PPG - 7.4RPG - 2.3APG - 1.1SPG - 0.9BPG | 160 GAMES

Cedric Ablaza didn’t come from a big school and wasn’t a high-profile name heading into the 2016 PBA Draft, where he was selected 17th overall in the third round by the Mahindra Enforcers. While he never got to play in the PBA, the former STI Olympian was able to carve his niche in the MPBL. Ablaza proved his value with the Makati Super Crunch and later the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, becoming a two-time All-MPBL First Team selection. He helped his teams reach the Final Four four times and is currently the only player to have appeared in the All-Star Game four times.

7 | ORLAN WAMAR

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 2

ALL-MPBL SECOND TEAM | 1

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1

ALL-STAR | 2

STATS | 10.5PPG - 3.6RPG - 5.4APG - 1.6SPG | 168 GAMES

Orlan Wamar came from a non-UAAP, non-NCAA school, and being drafted 36th overall by the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2022 PBA Draft made it clear that a long PBA career would be an uphill battle. But the PBA's loss is the MPBL's gain, as the league gave the former CEU Scorpion the platform to shine, and he delivered immediately as a ball-driven combo guard for the San Juan Knights. Over six seasons, he helped San Juan reach the Final Four five times, winning one championship, while earning two First Team and one Second Team MPBL honors along the way. He is also a two-time All-Star. Orlan Wamar’s MPBL journey shows how opportunity, hard work, and performance can turn overlooked players into legitimate league standouts.

6 | GAB BANAL

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER | 1

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 1

ALL-MPBL SECOND TEAM | 1

ALL-STAR | 2

STATS | 11.0PPG - 5.4RPG - 4.6APG - 1.0SPG | 124 GAMES

Gab Banal has emerged as one of the MPBL’s most respected leaders, earning admiration from teammates and opponents alike despite not yet winning a championship. He was drafted in the second round by San Miguel in the 2014 PBA Draft and spent five seasons in the league, but limited playing time and bouncing from team to team showed him that there are other paths to making a mark in Philippine basketball. In the MPBL, Banal won an MVP award as part of the Bacoor City Strikers, and also earned a First Team and a Second Team selection, and appeared in two Finals, proving he could carry and inspire his teams on the court. He is also a two-time All-Star, cementing his reputation as a versatile guard who can score, facilitate, and lead.

5 | WILL MCALONEY

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 3

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1

ALL-STAR MVP | 1

ALL-STAR | 3

STATS | 12.2PPG - 7.6RPG - 1.5APG - 0.6SPG - 0.9BPG | 162 GAMES

Will McAloney was part of the MPBL from its inaugural season, playing for the Cebu franchise and quickly establishing himself as a consistent double-double machine. In 2019, his impressive gameplay earned him a second-round selection by the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Draft, though he saw limited playing time. He returned to the MPBL in 2022 with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, where his combination of size, skill, and outside touch made him a standout once again. McAloney became a three-time All-MPBL First Team selection and helped lead the Rice Vanguards to a championship, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most elite players.

4 | JOHN WILSON

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER | 1

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 1

ALL-MPBL SECOND TEAM | 1

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1

ALL-STAR | 2

STATS | 13.7PPG - 5.4RPG - 2.3APG - 1.5SPG | 170 GAMES

John Wilson built his reputation in the PBA as a reliable second-stringer and occasional starter for Ginebra, known for his triples and mid-range jumpers that gave space for star teammates to excel. Towards the end of the 2010s, he bounced between teams and lost his role, but the MPBL gave him the chance to revive his career. With the San Juan Knights, he captured an MVP award, a league championship, and proved he could carry a team when needed, showing flashes of the leadership he displayed with the JRU Heavy Bombers in the NCAA. Wilson also earned a First Team selection, a Second Team citation, and appeared in two All-Star games, cementing his standing as one of the league’s most reliable scorers.

3 | MARK YEE

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 2

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2

FINALS MVP | 1

ALL-STAR | 3

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | 2

STATS | 10.6PPG - 9.5RPG - 2.0APG - 0.6SPG - 0.8BPG | 192 GAMES

Mark Yee has always been an overachiever, building a solid foundation in the PBL and MVBL even before his PBA stint. After several seasons as a journeyman, Yee resurrected his career in the MPBL, bringing veteran stability and dependable production for teams in need of a go-to contributor. Over six MPBL seasons, he was a two-time First Team selection, three-time All-Star, and the league's only two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He appeared in four Finals, winning two championships while earning a Finals MVP with the Davao Occidental Tigers. Yee’s impact went beyond stats; he provided leadership, defensive toughness, and a calming presence that allowed his teams to thrive under pressure. From PBA enforcer to MPBL veteran star, he became a blueprint for how experience, reliability, and determination can define a player’s legacy in the league.

2 | JAYCEE MARCELINO

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER | 1

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 3

ALL-MPBL SECOND TEAM | 1

ALL-STAR MVP | 1

ALL-STAR | 3

STATS | 16.0PPG - 5.6RPG - 4.9APG - 2.4SPG | 117 GAMES

Jaycee Marcelino plays the game like a true combo guard, capable of carrying a team the same way he once did for the LPU Pirates in the NCAA. Drafted in the second round of the 2019 PBA Draft by the Alaska Aces, he struggled to find consistent minutes on a roster loaded with more established options. After three seasons in the PBA, he found his opportunity in the MPBL, where he immediately made his mark with the Zamboanga Valientes by putting up big numbers from his very first year. Marcelino went on to win one MPBL MVP, earned three All-MPBL First Team selections, one Second Team citation, an All-Star MVP, and three All-Star appearances, even though a league championship has so far eluded him. He may not be the obvious franchise cornerstone type, but in the MPBL, Marcelino carved out a clear identity as a certified go-to guy who fully maximized his second chance.

1 | JUSTINE BALTAZAR

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER | 2

ALL-MPBL FIRST TEAM | 2

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2

FINALS MVP | 2

ALL-STAR MVP | 1

ALL-STAR | 2

STATS | 16.2PPG - 16.3RPG - 5.0APG - 1.4SPG - 1.2BPG | 72 GAMES

Justine Baltazar entered the MPBL with a résumé that already set him apart. Before joining the league, he was a decorated star for the DLSU Green Archers. He later explored opportunities in international leagues, making it clear that his game was already beyond the local level. He first appeared in the MPBL with the San Juan Knights, but it was his return after a stint in the Japan B League that truly changed everything. When he signed with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, Baltazar produced a season unlike any other in league history, dominating both ends of the floor on a nightly basis. He often looked overqualified for the MPBL, and that was exactly why his impact felt so overwhelming and undeniable.

In his first year with Pampanga, he completely took over the league and immediately established himself as its most dominant force. By his second season, he continued to play with the same intensity and professionalism despite being PBA-bound. He did not disappoint, dominating the MPBL for a second straight year, winning another MVP, and leading the Giant Lanterns to a second championship. He remains the only player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs and back-to-back Finals MVPs while capturing consecutive titles. Despite a relatively short MPBL stint, the combination of dominance, accolades, and impact makes Baltazar the clear standard for MPBL greatness as of today.