North Division (MPBL)

The North Division is one of two divisions in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the other being the South Division. Both divisions were formed as a result of the league's national expansion in the 2018–19 season.^[1] As of 2025, both divisions consist of 15 teams each.

North Division

League	Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
Sport	Basketball
Founded	2018
No. of teams	15
Most recent champion(s)	Pampanga Giant Lanterns (2nd title)
Most titles	Pampanga Giant Lanterns San Juan Knights (2 titles each)

The most recent realignment occurred in the 2025 season. The expansion Ilagan Isabela Cowboys were placed in the North Division alongside the returning Pasig City MPBL team. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned to the South Division to balance both divisions.^[2]

2025 standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GB
1	x – Abra Solid North Weavers	23	22[a]	1	—
2	x – Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	23	22[a]	1	—
3	q – San Juan Knights	23	21	2	1
4	q – Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	24	17[b]	7	5.5
5	q – Pampanga Giant Lanterns	24	17[b]	7	5.5
6	q – Pangasinan Heatwaves	23	16	7	6
7	q – Pasay Voyagers	24	16	8	6.5
8	Ilagan Isabela Cowboys	24	13	11	9.5
9	e – Bataan Risers	24	9	15	13.5
10	e – Pasig City	23	8	15	14
11	e – Quezon City Galeries Taipan	23	6	17	16
12	e – Val City Magic	24	6	18	16.5
13	e – Marikina Shoemasters	23	4	19	18
14	e – Bulacan Kuyas	23	3	20	19
15	e – Manila Batang Quiapo	23	2	21	20

Updated to match(es) played on August 21, 2025. Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss.
e – Eliminated from direct playoff qualification; can still clinch play-in berth; q – Qualified for postseason; can clinch direct playoff berth; x – Clinched direct playoff berth
Notes:

1. Abra wins tiebreaker over Nueva Ecija based on head-to-head match-up.
2. Caloocan wins tiebreaker over Pampanga based on head-to-head match-up.

Teams

Current

Team	Location	Years in division
Abra Solid North Weavers	Bangued, Abra	2024–present
Bataan Risers	Balanga, Bataan Orion, Bataan	2018–present
Bulacan Kuyas	Baliwag, Bulacan	2018–2020; 2023–present
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	Caloocan	2018–present
Ilagan Isabela Cowboys	Ilagan, Isabela	2025–present
Manila Batang Quiapo	Manila	2018–present
Marikina Shoemasters	Marikina	2019–present
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	Palayan, Nueva Ecija	2019–present
Pampanga Giant Lanterns	San Fernando, Pampanga	2018–present
Pangasinan Heatwaves	Calasiao, Pangasinan Rosales, Pangasinan	2024–present
Pasay Voyagers	Pasay	2018–2020; 2023–present
Pasig City MPBL team	Pasig	2018–2023; 2025–present
Quezon City Galeries Taipan	Quezon City	2018–present
San Juan Knights	San Juan	2018–present
Val City Magic	Valenzuela	2018–present

Former

Team	Location	Years in division	Current division
Makati OKBet Kings	Makati	2018–2023	Inactive
Mandaluyong El Tigre	Mandaluyong	2018–2019	Inactive
Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines	Navotas	2018–2020	Inactive
Parañaque Patriots	Parañaque	2019–2020; 2023	South Division
Rizal Golden Coolers	Antipolo, Rizal	2019–2020; 2023–2024	South Division
Tarlac United Force	Tarlac City, Tarlac	2024[a]	Inactive

Notes

1. The Tarlac United Force withdrew before their first game of the 2024 season due to not being able to fulfill the league's financial obligations to join the following season.

Timeline

	Denotes team that is currently in the division
	Denotes team that has left the division
	Denotes period in which the team is/was in the opposing division

North Division finals history

Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of times that team has appeared in the North Division finals, as well as each respective teams' North Division finals record up to date.

Won MPBL finals

Season	Champion	Series	Runner-up
2018–19 Datu Cup	San Juan (1, 1–0)	2–1	Manila (1, 0–1)
2019–20 Lakan Season	San Juan (2, 2–0)	2–1	Makati (1, 0–1)
2022	Nueva Ecija (1, 1–0)	2–1	San Juan (3, 2–1)
2023	Pampanga (1, 1–0)	2–0	San Juan (4, 2–2)
2024	Pampanga (2, 2–0)	2–0	San Juan (5, 2–3)

Season results

Legend
	Won MPBL finals
	Won division finals, but lost the MPBL finals
	Qualified for the playoffs

Season	Team
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th	16th
2018: The North Division was formed with thirteen member teams.
2018–19 Datu Cup	BAN (23–2)	MKT (21–4)	SJ (20–5)	MNL (20–5)	BUL (14–11)	NAV (13–12)	QC (12–13)	CAL (11–14)	PAM (11–14)	VAL (10–15)	MDL (8–17)	PSY (8–17)	PSG (4–21)	—	—	—
2019: Expansion side Nueva Ecija was placed in the North Division while Mandaluyong departed from the league. Marikina, Parañaque, and Rizal joined from the South Division.
2019–20 Lakan Season	SJ (26–4)	MNL (25–5)	MKT (22–8)	PAM (21–9)	BAN (20–10)	BUL (19–11)	PSG (18–12)	PSY (17–13)	CAL (16–14)	VAL (11–19)	NE (10–20)	QC (10–20)	MAR (8–22)	PAR (8–22)	NAV (7–22)	RZL (6–23)
2022: Bulacan, Navotas, Parañaque, and Pasay departed from the league. Rizal was realigned back to the South Division.
2022	NE (21–0)	PSG (14–7)	SJ (14–7)	PAM (14–7)	BAN (13–8)	VAL (10–11)	QC (9–12)	MAR (8–13)	CAL (6–15)	MNL (6–15)	MKT (2–19)	—	—	—	—	—
2023: Returning sides Bulacan, Parañaque, and Pasay were placed in the North Division. Rizal rejoined from the South Division.[3]
2023	PAM (26–2)	NE (23–5)	MKT (21–7)	CAL (20–8)	PSG (19–9)	SJ (19–9)	PSY (17–11)	MAR (16–12)	BAN (13–15)	RZL (12–16)	PAR (11–17)	BUL (7–21)	MNL (4–23)	QC (3–25)	VAL (3–25)	—
2024: Expansion sides Abra, Pangasinan, and Tarlac were placed in the North Division while Makati and Pasig departed from the league. Parañaque was realigned back to the South Division. Tarlac was pulled out before playing their first game of the season.
2024	SJ (26–2)	PAM (26–2)	NE (24–4)	MNL (20–8)	CAL (19–9)	PSY (18–10)	ABR (18–10)	RZL (15–13)	QC (15–13)	VAL (14–14)	PGS (12–16)	BAN (9–19)	MAR (7–21)	BUL (2–26)	TAR (WD)	—
2025: Expansion side Ilagan Isabela was placed in the North Division alongside returning side Pasig. Rizal was realigned back once again to the South Division. [2]

Rivalries

Nueva Ecija vs. Pampanga

Main article: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–Pampanga Giant Lanterns rivalry

Nueva Ecija vs. San Juan

Main article: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–San Juan Knights rivalry

Pampanga vs. San Juan

Main article: Pampanga Giant Lanterns–San Juan Knights rivalry