THE MPBL TOP 20 PROJECT

There is a reason why I found myself deep into MPBL statistics this month. 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.

Using various online sources, I painstakingly compiled the numbers, mainly looking at individual awards, statistics, and overall impact in the league.

So why the hell am I doing this?

What makes the MPBL interesting is that, yes, it is considered a second-tier professional league, but not because the talent is inferior. It simply sits below the PBA, which remains the ultimate destination for Filipino players who want to make it big. To me, the MPBL feels like a modern blend of two classic Philippine basketball systems: the PBL and the MBA.

That said, this is not a knock on the MPBL. In fact, one of its greatest strengths is its connection to the people. While some teams clearly have stronger financial backing than others, the league has proven that community support matters just as much as corporate money. The PBA still has the country’s best players, but there are nights when its playoff atmosphere can feel comparable to a packed MPBL home game. The rapid fanbase is what sets the MPBL apart from the PBA at times, although admittedly, this is due to some teams that are richer than others. The MPBL also houses players we once cheered for in the PBA and future stars we expect to shine at the highest level.

Yes, the MBA, the PBL, and even the PBA D-League are long gone, but the MPBL feels like a worthy successor that fills the void they left behind.

This is where the comparisons come in.

Looking at the PBL, or the PBA D-League if you’re a millennial, the similarities are obvious. Top collegiate players often pass through this league before moving up, unless they already have an overseas contract. But unlike the D-League era—where college programs sometimes grouped their stars together to boost UAAP or NCAA title chances—the MPBL operates differently. Players usually team up only after their collegiate eligibility is over, making it more of a personal choice than an institutional strategy.

Sure, we still see familiar college tandems reuniting in the pros, like DLSU's Jun Limpot and Johnedel Cardel in Magnolia, FEU's Johnny Abarrientos and Vic Pablo in Crispa, or UE's James Yap and Paul Artadi in Welcoat. At the same time, we’ve also seen fresh pairings such as Marlou Aquino and Bal David in Stag, Christian Calaguio and Ronald Magtulis in Chowking, Ronald Tubid and Marvin Ortiguerra in ANA Water, and Danny Ildefonso with Paolo Mendoza in Red Bull.

Just like the old PBL, the MPBL serves as a stepping-stone for players trying to boost their PBA Draft stock. Playing with former college teammates is a bonus, but ultimately, a player’s professional success depends on his own work, with coaches, backers, and friends acting only as support.

Another important parallel with the PBL is that the MPBL gives players from smaller schools—Division II or Division III programs—a real platform to shine. In the past, names like Dondon Hontiveros and Peter June Simon emerged through leagues outside the mainstream path, while Gary David became a notable PBL product despite not coming from a top-tier college.

We see the same pattern today with players like Jhonard Clarito and Aris Dionisio, who likely would not have reached the PBA without making noise in the MPBL. The MBA did something similar by giving provincial players more exposure, helping talents like Jessie Cabanayan and even Jared Dillinger—who began his Philippine career with the Pampanga Buddies in Liga Pilipinas—find their way to the pros.

Perhaps the MPBL’s biggest contribution is the opportunity it provides financially and professionally. There have been multiple reports of players earning more in the MPBL than in the PBA. The PBA may be the dream league, but for some, the MPBL offers a more practical and stable career path. Players can extend their careers well beyond their prime, and they are even allowed to compete in other leagues for additional income.

Unlike the PBA, which is dominated by corporate franchises that must maintain their teams for branding purposes, the MPBL features more independent squads that can operate with greater flexibility. While championships matter, many PBA teams ultimately play to strengthen their brand rather than purely for basketball reasons.

Positioning itself as a second-tier league actually works in the MPBL’s favor. Naturally, some of its best players will eventually move up to the PBA, and that relationship feels healthy rather than threatening. Back in the late 1990s, the MBA once challenged the PBA by luring stars away, but when the PBA struck back, the MBA collapsed. This time, the dynamic feels more symbiotic: the PBA scouts the MPBL for talent, while the MPBL becomes a second chance for undrafted or overlooked players who still have something to prove.

Again, why spend time on college players if the top stars will likely end up in the farm teams? Sooner or later, the PBA will crack down on the farm teams. Sure, Ginebra is still never-say-die, but their current bench has been one of the weakest in recent memory.

With recent talks about international teams joining the PBA during import conferences, I’ve even wondered if title-contending MPBL squads could be invited as guest teams. Based on the level of play we’ve seen from clubs like Season 6 Abra and Quezon, they could very well compete with bottom-tier PBA teams like Blackwater or Terrafirma.

I’ve also been high on the partnership between Converge and the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, which might be one of the smartest developments in Philippine basketball today. Converge can send players to Pampanga for real game experience instead of letting them rot on the bench, while Pampanga can freely sign promising talents. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like SMC and MVP-backed teams continue to invest heavily in college pipelines, but that creates its own imbalance in the PBA.

The MPBL has also learned from many of the MBA’s mistakes. By focusing on livestreaming instead of relying solely on television, the league reduced its financial burden. By awarding franchises to cities with passionate fan bases, it solved many of its attendance issues. Even if Metro Manila crowds can be underwhelming, provincial arenas often pack the house in ways the PBA sometimes struggles to replicate.

Of course, the MPBL isn’t perfect. It still faces problems like uneven competition, game-fixing controversies, and inconsistent officiating. But these are growing pains that can be addressed over time.

And if we go back to the league’s origins as a Manny Pacquiao project, I’ll end with this: say what you want about Pacquiao’s underwhelming PBA career. As a basketball contributor, however, creating the MPBL might be one of his most meaningful legacies in Philippine sports—and a strong reason why he deserves a place in the Philippine Basketball Hall of Fame.