After almost two (2) years of hiatus, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is set to host its invitational tournament on 11-21 December of this year. If everything goes into plan, the tournament will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) in Pasay City.
“Hopefully, the venue (MOA) can be confirmed today. We’re ready and excited. This is the right time to reignite the league after our long hiatus,” Mr. Duremdes said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum yesterday.
There will be about twenty-two (22) teams who will participate in the pocket tournament which is slated to provide a much needed avenue for players to get back into the hardcourt while earning at the same time. Perennial rivals Davao Occidental Tigers and the San Juan Knights are looking to renew their rivalry as they lead the cast of the participating teams.
Commissioner Duremdes likewise confirmed that the MPBL, which is currently under the operations of Chooks-to-Go, intends to become a professional league. Preparations are underway to secure the clearances and permits from the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), the regulatory body for professional leagues and their athletes.
The pocket tournament will follow the FIBA format wherein teams will be grouped into four (4) pools. the top two (2) of each group will advance to a knockout quarterfinals stage. The winning teams will further advance to the next round until the champion will be determined.
After this invitational tournament, the MPBL will go for a break in preparation for a full season starting June 12, 2022. The MPBL hopes that fans will already be allowed to watch the games and that host cities can already host games.