South Division (MPBL)

The South Division is one of two divisions in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the other being the North 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.

South Division

League	Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
Sport	Basketball
Founded	2018
No. of teams	15
Most recent champion(s)	Quezon Huskers (1st title)
Most titles	Davao Occidental Tigers (2 titles)

The most recent realignment occurred in the 2025 season. Two returning teams, Basilan Viva Portmasters and Cebu Classic (later renamed to Cebu Greats) were placed back in the South Division. Three others departed: the Bicolandia Oragons, Iloilo United Royals, and Negros Muscovados. The Rizal Golden Coolers were realigned to the South Division to balance both divisions.

2025 standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GB
1	q – Quezon Huskers	22	18	4	—
2	Zamboanga Sikat	23	16	7	2.5
3	Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters	23	15	8	3.5
4	Rizal Golden Coolers	22	14	8	4
5	GenSan Warriors	23	14	9	4.5
6	Biñan Tatak Gel	22	13	9	5
7	Mindoro Tamaraws	23	13	10	5.5
8	Basilan Starhorse	22	11	11	7
9	Muntinlupa Cagers	22	10	12	8
10	Imus Braderhood	22	9[a]	13	9
11	Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire	22	9[a]	13	9
12	Cebu Greats	24	9	15	10
13	Davao Occidental Tigers	22	8	14	10
14	e – Bacolod Tubo Slashers	23	3	20	15.5
15	e – Parañaque Patriots	20	1	19	16

Updated to match(es) played on August 16, 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 playoff berth
Notes:

1. Imus wins tiebreaker over Sarangani based on head-to-head match-up.

Teams

Current

Team	Location	Years in division
Bacolod Tubo Slashers	Bacolod	2019–present
Basilan Viva Portmasters	Lamitan, Basilan	2018–2020; 2025–present
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters	Batangas City, Batangas	2018–present
Biñan Tatak Gel	Biñan, Laguna	2018–present
Cebu Classic	Cebu City	2018–2020; 2025–present
Davao Occidental Tigers	Davao Occidental	2018–2020; 2024–present
Imus Braderhood	Imus, Cavite	2018–present
Mindoro Tamaraws	Pola, Oriental Mindoro	2019–present
Muntinlupa Cagers	Muntinlupa	2018–present
Parañaque Patriots	Parañaque	2018–2020; 2024–present
Quezon Huskers	Lucena	2023–present
Rizal Golden Coolers	Antipolo, Rizal	2018–2019; 2022; 2025–present
Sarangani Gripper Motorcycle Tire	Alabel, Sarangani	2019–present
GenSan Warriors	General Santos	2018–present
Zamboanga Sikat	Zamboanga City	2018–present

Former

Team	Locality	Years in division	Current division
Bacoor City Strikers	Bacoor, Cavite	2018–2023	Inactive
Bicolandia Oragons	Legazpi, Albay	2019–2020; 2023–2024	Inactive
Iloilo United Royals	Passi, Iloilo	2019–2020; 2023–2024	Inactive
Marikina Shoemasters	Marikina	2018–2019	North Division
Negros Muscovados	Bacolod	2023–2024	Inactive

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

South Division finals history

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

Won MPBL finals

Season	Champion	Series	Runner-up
2018–19 Datu Cup	Davao Occidental (1, 1–0)	2–1	Batangas City (1, 0–1)
2019–20 Lakan Season	Davao Occidental (2, 2–0)	2–1	Basilan (1, 0–1)
2022	Zamboanga (1, 1–0)	2–1	Batangas City (2, 0–2)
2023	Bacoor City (1, 1–0)	2–0	Batangas City (3, 0–3)
2024	Quezon (1, 1–0)	2–1	Batangas City (4, 0–4)

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
2018: The South Division was formed with thirteen member teams.
2018–19 Datu Cup	DVO (20–5)	BTG (15–10)	MUN (15–10)	GS (14–11)	BCR (13–12)	ZAM (12–13)	IMS (11–14)	CEB (11–14)	LAG (10–15)	PAR (9–16)	MAR (8–17)	BAS (7–18)	RZL (7–18)	—	—
2019: Expansion sides Bacolod, Bicol, Iloilo, Mindoro and Soccsksargen joined the South Division. Marikina, Parañaque, and Rizal were realigned to the North Division. Cebu City, Laguna, and Soccsksargen changed its location identifiers to Cebu, Biñan, and Sarangani, respectively.
2019–20 Lakan Season	DVO (26–4)	BCR (24–6)	BAS (20–10)	BTG (19–11)	ZAM (18–12)	ILO (18–12)	GS (18–12)	BCL (16–14)	CEB (15–15)	BIÑ (12–18)	BCD (11–19)	MDR (9–21)	MUN (7–23)	IMS (6–24)	SAR (1–29)
2022: Basilan, Bicol, Cebu, Davao Occidental, and Iloilo departed from the league. Rizal rejoined from the North Division. Biñan reverted its location identifier back to Laguna.
2022	ZAM (18–3)	BTG (17–4)	SAR (16–5)	GS (15–6)	BCD (14–7)	RZL (10–11)	BCR (9–12)	MUN (6–15)	IMS (5–16)	LAG (3–18)	MDR (1–20)	—	—	—	—
2023: Expansion sides Negros and Quezon joined the South Division alongside returning sides Bicol and Iloilo. Rizal was realigned back to the North Division. Mindoro briefly changed its location identifier to Oriental Mindoro before reverting back.[2]
2023	BCR (23–5)	BTG (22–6)	GS (21–7)	ZAM (20–8)	QZN (19–9)	MUN (16–12)	IMS (15–13)	ILO (12–16)	BCD (11–17)	SAR (11–17)	NEG (10–18)	MDR (6–22)	LAG (4–23)	BCL (1–27)	—
2024: Returning side Davao Occidental was placed in the South Division while Bacoor City departed from the league. Parañaque rejoined from the North Division. General Santos and Laguna changed its location identiers to South Cotabato and Biñan, respectively.
2024	QZN (21–7)	BTG (20–8)	BIÑ (20–8)	ZAM (20–8)	PAR (17–11)	SOC (17–11)	DVO (15–13)	NEG (12–16)	ILO (11–17)	MDR (10–18)	MUN (7–21)	SAR (5–23)	BCL (3–25)	IMS (2–26)	BCD (1–27)
2025: Returning sides Basilan and Cebu were placed in the South Division while Bicol, Iloilo, and Negros departed from the league. Rizal once again rejoined from the North Division. South Cotabato reverted its location identifier back to General Santos.

Rivalries

Batangas City vs. Zamboanga

Main article: Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters–Zamboanga Sikat rivalry