The MPBL introduced two new expansion teams this season, both based in Northern Luzon: the Abra Weavers and the Pangasinan Heatwaves.[1] Abra became the first team based in the Cordillera Administrative Region while Pangasinan became the first in the Ilocos Region. This season would have seen a third expansion team, the Tarlac United Force,[3] however the league pulled the team out after failing to comply with the league's financial obligations.[4]
The two expansion teams (Abra and Pangasinan) were all placed in the North Division. Davao Occidental was placed back into the South Division together with the Parañaque Patriots. Due to Tarlac's withdrawal, the league remains at 29 teams, with the North Division having 14 teams and the South having 15.
Beginning with this season, the league has removed the ex-PBA player limit from its roster regulations, allowing teams to sign any number of professional players.[1] Mid-season, the league was affected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) decision to no longer allow its Special Guest Licensees to play in professional leagues, which came into effect on June 1, 2024.[5][6]
This season's Preseason Invitational ran from February 21 to 27, 2024. Similar to the previous edition, the tournament featured eight teams and took place at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos in line with the city's Kalilangan Festival.[1] The Pampanga Giant Lanterns were crowned tournament champions after defeating the South Cotabato Warriors in the final game, 93–75.[12]
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony took place at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan.[9] Singer and Calasiao native Mitoy Yonting is one of the performers to kick off the season. The team and muse showcase then followed, with Barbie Imperial, representing the Abra Weavers, winning the Best Muse award.
Originally scheduled for March 16, 2024, this season's opening gameday was postponed twice. First by a week to March 23 and the second by another two weeks to April 6, the latter being due in part to the observance of Holy Week in the country during the week after March 23.[15]
Similar to previous seasons, all participating teams play in a single round-robin tournament for the regular season, playing one game against every other team. This season, each of the 29 teams is expected to play 28 games. In each gameday, a series of games is played in a designated home arena, with the home team usually playing in the final game. The top eight teams in each division will advance to the 2024 MPBL playoffs.
Updated to match(es) played on September 21, 2024. Source: Standings Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Head-to-head point differential; 4) Head-to-head points scored; 5) Overall point differential; 6) Overall points scored. o – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; z – Clinched best record in league Notes:
^ abRizal wins tiebreaker over Quezon City based on head-to-head record.
^The Tarlac United Force was pulled out by the league due to the team's failure to comply with financial obligations.
Updated to match(es) played on September 21, 2024. Source: Standings Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Head-to-head point differential; 4) Head-to-head points scored; 5) Overall point differential; 6) Overall points scored. o – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched best record in division Notes:
^ abBatangas City wins tiebreaker over Biñan based on head-to-head record.
^ abBacolod (-440) wins tiebreaker over Imus (-687) based on overall point differential.
Updated to match(es) played on September 21, 2024. Source: Schedule Legend: Blue = win; Red = loss; Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime. (*) Number of asterisks denotes number of overtime periods
Notes
Any game details are subject to change.
Any games that are played home or away are indicated by the superscript after the team's abbreviation (H for home and A for away). Games with no superscript are neutral-site.
The games on July 23 at San Andres Sports Complex were rescheduled to September 28.
The games on July 25 at Caloocan Sports Complex were rescheduled to September 27.
The games on July 26 at Olivarez College were rescheduled to September 30.
All games scheduled on September 2 at Ynares Sports Arena were postponed due to rains brought by Tropical Depression Enteng.[19] They were later rescheduled to October 1 and moved to San Andres Sports Complex.
Any postponed or suspended games will be rescheduled towards the end of the season and will be played or resumed should it have playoff implications.
The playoffs are expected to begin in October 2024. As it has been since 2019, the divisional rounds will utilize a best-of-three format while the championship series, the national finals, will be a best-of-five series.
Updates to playoff appearances
The San Juan Knights will enter the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and also clinch the best record in the league for the first time since 2020.[20]
The Quezon Huskers will enter the playoffs for the second consecutive season and also clinch the best record in the South Division for the first time in franchise history.
The Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters will enter the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, currently the longest playoff streak in the MPBL.
The Mindoro Tamaraws will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, which is now the longest active playoff drought in the league and tied for the longest playoff drought overall.
Due to their departures from the league:
Makati will miss the playoffs after making the postseason last season.
Pasig City will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Bacoor City will miss the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, having made the playoffs since 2019.
Notable events
This will be first time since 2018 and the second time overall that Cavite doesn't have a team make the playoffs.
The San Juan Knights, South Cotabato Warriors, and Zamboanga Master Sardines will join the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters as the only teams to have made at least five playoff appearances in the MPBL.
This will be the first time that Western Visayas doesn't have a team make the playoffs since the region's entry into the league in the 2019–20 season.
The San Juan Knights become the first team in league history to clinch the top seed in two seasons, with the first coming in 2020.
Bracket
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. Teams in italics have homecourt advantage for the series. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its division, while the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round.
Ahead of the season, the MPBL banned 47 players and officials for allegedly being involved in game fixing.[44]
On April 16, 2024, an altercation took place following the Abra–Pasay game in which one of the game officials was attacked by bodyguards of the Abra Weavers' team owner.[45][46] The league has since launched an investigation of the incident.[47]
On April 24, 2024, Germy Mahinay was fined and suspended indefinitely after undercutting Joey Barcuma during the Negros–Zamboanga game on April 22, which resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul leading to his ejection from the game.[48]
On June 3, 2024, the Bicolandia Oragons lost their 22nd straight game, surpassing the 2020 Soccsksargen/Sarangani Marlins for the longest overall losing streak in league history. The streak, which dates back to the 2023 season, eventually ended at 23 games following a win over the Bacolod City of Smiles on June 12.
On August 16, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns won their 22nd straight game of the season, surpassing the 2022 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards for the longest single-season regular season winning streak in league history.[51] The streak eventually ended at 23 games following a loss to the San Juan Knights on August 30.
On August 22, the Manila Batang Sampaloc recorded 48 assists against the Bicolandia Oragons, the most assists by a team in a single game.
On September 3, the Bacolod City of Smiles lost their 22nd straight game of the season, surpassing the 2020 Soccsksargen/Sarangani Marlins for the longest single-season losing streak in league history.
On September 16, the Bacolod City of Smiles lost their 24th straight game, surpassing the aforementioned Bicolandia Oragons for the longest overall losing streak in league history.
On September 19, Philip Manalang of the Parañaque Patriots broke the single-game assists record with 23 assists against the Imus Agimat, breaking the previous record held by Marwin Taywan (20) in 2022.[52]
Milestones
April 6, 2024 – Jaycee Marcelino becomes the 29th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
April 12, 2024 – Ian Melencio becomes the 30th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
April 17, 2024 – Michael Mabulac becomes the 6th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career rebounds.
Michael Mabulac also becomes the 4th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points and rebounds.
April 20, 2024 – Robby Celiz becomes the 31st player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
April 22, 2024:
Jhaymo Eguilos becomes the 7th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career rebounds.
Jhaymo Eguilos also becomes the 5th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points and rebounds.
Carlo Lastimosa becomes the 32nd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
April 25, 2024 – Orlan Wamar Jr. becomes the 33rd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
April 29, 2024 – Mark Cruz becomes the 34th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
May 7, 2024 – Billy Ray Robles becomes the 35th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
May 17, 2024 – Emman Calo becomes the 36th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
June 19, 2024 – Paolo Javelona becomes the 37th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
July 11, 2024 – Larry Rodriguez becomes the 38th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
July 13, 2024 – Gab Banal becomes the 39th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
July 19, 2024 – Judel Fuentes becomes the 40th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
July 20, 2024 – Pamboy Raymundo becomes the 41st player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
August 26, 2024 – Yvan Ludovice becomes the 42nd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
August 27, 2024 – Rhaffy Octobre becomes the 43rd player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
August 31, 2024 – Robbie Manalang becomes the 44th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
September 12, 2024 – Laurenz Victoria becomes the 45th player to reach 1,000 MPBL career points.
Junior MPBL tournaments
Junior MPBL began its second season on May 5, 2024, retaining the same three age groups (14-under, 16-under, and 18-under). A new 21-under age group, billed as the Junior MPBL D-League, will begin its first season during this season as well.
Media
This season marks the third year of Cignal TV's broadcast partnership with the league. Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV) still handles all live television broadcasts while One PH continues to air the primetime game on a delayed basis. The games are streamed live via Pilipinas Live and online on Facebook and YouTube.