The National Basketball League (NBL), also known as the NBL–Pilipinas, is a men's regional professional basketball league in the Philippines.
History On June 7, 2018, Celso "Soy" Mercado established the league and named National Basketball League Philippines to search undiscovered talents. The league features an away-and-home format, focusing on giving homegrown players (aged 18–30, and bonafide residents of the team's province, city or municipality) an opportunity to showcase their skills. The league began its inaugural season on August 25, 2018, with 10 teams from Luzon. Games were played every Saturday and Sunday. The Parañaque Aces became the league's first champions after defeating the Dasmariñas Ballers in the best-of-three championship round.
In 2019, the league expanded to 15 teams, while two of the founding teams folded (Marikina Shoemakers and Bulacan Makabayan). The Women's National Basketball League began their inaugural season on April 7, 2019. The league's youth division, named NBL-Youth, began its season on May 20, 2019. NBL Philippines season 3 opened November 16, 2019, with 14 teams competing (Bulacan, Iriga, Rizal, Zambales, Imus & Cainta begged off from competing, while Marikina Best Shoemakers returned to the league after a year absence). On August 26, 2020, the Games and Amusements Board have accepted the NBL and WNBL's application to become a professional league in 2021. First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod, Joey Villar, The Philippine Star, August 26, 2020 The first professional season of the NBL began on July 18, 2021, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.
Teams Team Locality First season Arena Capacity Team owner / governor Head coach Batangas Barako - Venom Art Batangas City, Batangas 2026 Governor's Cup Malvar Sports Arena 2,000 Reagan Lat Ringgo Jimenez CamSur Express Camarines Sur 2018 Fuerte Sports Complex 3,000 Gov. Luigi Villafuerte / Engr. Solomon Ngo Genesius Molto Manila MLB Manila 2025 Governor's Cup Paco Arena N/A Mark Guteza Harmz Hui Nueva Ecija Granary Buffalos Nueva Ecija 2024 President's Cup Nueva Ecija Coliseum Nagano Gym 5,500 N/A Hon. Aurelio Umali, Hon. Emmanuel Antonio Umali, Gil Raymond Umali Sherwin Allado Pangasinan Asinderos Calasiao, Pangasinan Rosales, Pangasinan 2025 President's Cup Robert B. Estrella Memorial Stadium N/A Hon. Patrick Caramat / William Cezar Chris Calaguio Quezon City Titans Quezon City 2026 Governor's Cup OLFU Gymnasium, Lagro, Quezon City TBA Paul Bayog Albert Olaya Quezon Starhorse Quezon 2026 Governor's Cup Lucena City Convention Center 4,000 Vincent Victor Reyes Jr. Melki Villanueva Taguig City Generals Taguig 2018 Cong. Jun Duenas Gymnasium West Rembo Sports Complex 2,000 N/A Hon. Lani Cayetano Bing Victoria Tikas Kapampangan Pampanga 2024 President's Cup Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center AUF Sports and Cultural Center FEU Pampanga Gymnasium Lapid Arena 3,000 2,000 1,000 5,000 Aya Gopez Jeff Chan Zamboanga Valientes Zamboanga City 2019 TBA TBA Junnie Navarro RJ Argamino
Previous teams Team Locality Arena Capacity First season Last season Biñan Tatak Gel Biñan, Laguna Alonte Sports Arena 6,500 2023 President's Cup 2023 Chairman's Cup Bulacan Starks - McDavid Bulacan Malolos Sports and Convention Center STI College Malolos Gym 2,0001,000 2019 2019 Bulacan Makabayan Bulacan Baliwag Star Arena 5,000 2018 2018 Cagayan Valley Water Buffalos Cagayan Valley none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup Cavite Ballers Cavite De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Ugnayang La Salle Gym & Animo CenterPhilippine Christian University - Dasmariñas Gym 2,0003,000 2018 2019-20 President's Cup Damayang Filipino Bulacan Stars Bulacan Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium 5,000 2021 2023 President's Cup FSD Makati Defenders Makati none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup Imus Bandila Imus, Cavite Imus Sports Complex 1,000 2019 2019 Iriga City Oragons Iriga, Camarines Sur Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum ~12,000 2019 2019 La Union Paower La Union San Juan Gymnasium (La Union) N/A 2019-20 President's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup (Rejoined) 2022 Chairman's Cup Laguna Kings Laguna none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup Laguna Pistons Laguna Santa Rosa Sports Complex 5,700 2018 2022 President's Cup Las Piñas Lodis Las Piñas none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup Las Piñas Oil Machine Las Piñas none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup Lifenet Caloocan Executives Caloocan none none 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup Luid Kapampangan Pampanga AUF Sports and Cultural Center Colegio De Sebastian Gymnasium 2,0001,400 2023 President's Cup 2023 President's Cup Makati Circus Music Festival Makati Makati Coliseum 12,000 2023 Chairman's Cup 2023 Chairman's Cup Marikina Best Shoemakers Marikina Marikina Sports Center 7,000 2018 2019-20 President's Cup (Rejoined) 2018 (Marikina Shoemakers) 2019-20 President's Cup Mindoro Tamaraws Disiplinados Mindoro none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2021 Chairman's Cup Muntinlupa Chiefs Muntinlupa none none 2023 Chairman's Cup 2023 Chairman's Cup Muntinlupa Constructicons Muntinlupa none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup Muntinlupa Water Warriors Muntinlupa none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2023 President's Cup (as Muntinlupa) Narvacan Panthers Narvacan none none 2022 President's Cup 2022 President's Cup Nikkelham Valenzuela Workhorse Valenzuela WES Arena 2,000 2024 President's Cup 2024 President's Cup Nueva Ecija Bespren Nueva Ecija San Leonardo Sports Gym 5,000 2018 (Go Bespren) 2019-20 President's Cup 2018 (Go Bespren) 2019-20 President's Cup Nueva Ecija Rice Makers Nueva Ecija San Leonardo Sports Gym 5,000 2019 2019 One Cainta Titans Cainta, Rizal One Arena N/A 2019 2019 Parañaque Aces Parañaque none none 2018 2022 President's Cup Paranaque Smile 360 Paranaque San Dionisio GymnasiumOlivarez College Coliseum 1,000 3,500 2024 President's Cup 2024 President's Cup Pasig El Pirata - Jekasa Sportswear Pasig none none 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup Rizal Nationals Rizal Antipolo Sports Hub 900 2018 2019 (only 2 games) Pampanga Delta Pampanga Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 3,000 2019 2022 Chairman's Cup Pasig Rios - Gameville Pasig MetroAsia Arena N/A 2019 2019 Santa Rosa Lions Santa Rosa, Laguna Santa Rosa Sports Complex 5,700 2022 President's Cup 2023 President's Cup Sulong Zambales @ Batang Gapo Subic, Zambales Subic Sports Complex 1,000 2024 President's Cup 2024 President's Cup Quezon Barons Quezon none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2022 President's Cup Quezon City All-Stars Quezon City none none 2022 Chairman's Cup 2022 Chairman's Cup Quezon City Defenders Quezon City Philadelphia High School Gym Pace Academy Gym AFP Wellness Center N/A 2019-20 President's Cup 2019-20 President's Cup Quezon City Rising Stars Quezon City N/A N/A 2018 2019 STAN District 4 Spartans Quezon none none 2021 Chairman's Cup 2021 Chairman's Cup Zambales Converge Fiber X-Men Zambales Botolan People's Plaza 1,000 2019 2019 Zambales Eruption Zambales none none 2023 Chairman's Cup 2023 Chairman's Cup Zamboanga Valientes Zamboanga Peninsula none none 2019 2021 Chairman's Cup Zambales Constructicons Zambales none none 2025 Governor's Cup 2025 President's Cup Bacoor - Maximus Premium Feeds Bacoor, Cavite none none 2025 President's Cup 2025 President's Cup Quezon City Enforcers Quezon City SB Park Belarmino Sports Complex N/A 2025 Governor's Cup 2025 President's Cup Santa Rosa Eridanus Santa Rosa, Laguna Dominican College Gymnasium N/A 2023 Chairman's Cup 2025 President's Cup 2023 Chairman's Cup 2025 President's Cup
NBL Youth teams 10u Teams 12u Teams 14u Teams 16u Teams 18u Teams 21u Teams Don Bosco JBC - Tarlac Hustle Grind - Tarlac Cob Sports - Tarlac Hicming Hawks - Catanduanes Agimat - Cavite South LNU Dukes - Pangasinan Team Cali Calabanga - Camarines Sur Team Cali Calabanga - Camarines Sur Adee's Place - Camarines Sur Agimat - Cavite South Arriba Iriga - Camarines Sur Mambulao Jerseyland - Camarines Norte Samahang Bangadz - Pangasinan Kings Basketball - Camarines Norte Green Mussels - Camarines Norte Annunciation Panthers - Sorsogon Hermanos All-Star - Camarines Sur Acetown Valenzuela Jump Point Hustle - Camarines Sur Coach Soc Basketball - Region 2 Jewelitas - Camarines Norte Emeralds - Laguna District 1 Imus AJAA Arsenal - Cavite North Worldstar Lions - Region 2 YSSY Clean - Quezon Province Pade Pade Soven - Camarines Sur Team Bagyo - Ilocos Sur Casa - Laguna District 1 Boss Maeng - Cavite South SBT RF Flores - Pangasinan Asingan - Pangasinan Coach Christian Camp - Region 2 Pilar - Sorsogon Pangasinan Ang Galing Don Bosco Design - Makati Maxon Cavaliers - NCR Basista - Pangasinan Under Dog - Region 2 DJ Quality Cars - NCR Pirates Ocean View - Catanduanes Epic Eastprint - NCR Rock & Fortress - Cavite North Kolokoys Basketball - Quezon Province Kolokoys Basketball - Quezon Province Pangasinan Ang Galing Binmaley - Pangasinan Under Dog - Region 2 Coach K - Region 2 LNU Dukes - Pangasinan Raz V - Catanduanes Silang Banaba - Cavite South White Oasis - Camarines Norte San Juan Basketball - Sorsogon Tagaytay Pride - Cavite South Narvacan - Ilocos Sur Tagaytay Pride - Cavite South Fresh Ballers Bulan - Sorsogon Trishot Basketball - Camarines Sur YSSY Clean - Quezon Province Own Style - Albay Pangasinan Athletics
List of champions Season / tournament Champion Series Runner-up Season MVP / Top performer Team 2018 Parañaque Aces 2–1 Dasmariñas Ballers John Cantimbuhan Dasmariñas Ballers 2019 Taguig Generals 2–0 Pampanga Delta Shinichi Manacsa Laguna Pistons 2019–20 President's Cup Converge Pampanga Delta 3–1 La Union PAOwer CJ Gania Converge Pampanga Delta 2021 Chairman's Cup Pampanga Delta (2) 2–0 La Union PAOwer Biboy Enguio Muntinlupa Water Warriors 2022 President's Cup Pampanga Delta (3) 2–0 Bulacan DF Republicans Joseph Celso Bulacan DF Republicans 2022 Chairman's Cup Taguig Generals (2) 2–0 La Union PAOwer Jap Pambid La Union PAOwer 2023 President's Cup Taguig Generals (3) 3–0 Luid Kapampangan Lhancer Khan Luid Kapampangan 2023 Chairman's Cup Taguig Generals (4) 3–0 CamSur Express Lerry John Mayo Taguig Generals 2024 President's Cup Taguig Generals (5) 3–2 CamSur Express Mike Sampurna Taguig Generals 2025 Governor's Cup Tikas Kapampangan 3–2 Taguig Generals Lerry John Mayo Taguig Generals 2025 President's Cup CamSur Express 3–2 Tikas Kapampangan Lerry John Mayo Taguig Generals 2026 Governor's Cup
NBL Youth champions