Knights, Batang Kankaloo Poised for Strong Start as MPBL 2026 Season Kicks Off

The 2026 MPBL season tips off today, featuring exciting doubleheaders at the Caloocan Sports Complex and Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

In the opening games, Pasay faces Mike Phillips-led San Juan at 5 p.m. in Caloocan, while Rizal Province meets Cebu at the same time in Biñan.

Later, co-hosts Caloocan and Biñan will take on Quezon City and Gensan, respectively, at 7 p.m.

San Juan, strengthened by UAAP Season 88 Finals MVP Mike Phillips (6-foot-8), along with University of the Philippines standouts Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Gerry Abadiano, and Reyland Torres, plus Perpetual Help’s Patrick Sleat, Jearico Nunez, and JP Boral, enters as the favorite against Pasay. The Voyagers will rely on Christian Fajarito and new recruits like Steve Nash Enriquez and Mark Parks from National University, alongside Mapua’s Cyril Gonzales.

The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo are also expected to outmatch the Quezon City Black Bulls, with former La Salle star Kean Baclaan and ex-Ateneo players Dom Escobar and Kymani Ladi leading the charge. Quezon City will count on Pat Buena, Jake Agoncillo, and veteran Rey Publico to keep them competitive.

The Biñan-Gensan matchup is seen as a closer contest, with former UST standout Nic Cabanero, Warren Bonifacio, Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Carlo Lastimosa, and Pamboy Raymundo supporting the home team. Gensan will be backed by former St. Benilde player Anton Eusebio, Nelo Santos from the University of Makati, and Lyceum’s Jan Michael Versoza, alongside key players Kyle Tolentino, Louie Vigil, and Mark Cruz.

The games will be preceded by a simple opening ceremony led by MPBL Commissioner Emmer Oreta, with MPBL CEO Joe Ramos, Operations Head Zaldy Realubit, and Legal Counsel Glenn Gacal expected to attend. The games will be broadcast live on Solar Sports and streamed on YouTube.

Fresh faces to watch this season include UP's Janjan Felicilda and Ateneo’s Joshua Lazaro (Zamboanga SiKat), Adamson’s Cedric Manzano (Quezon Province), UE’s John Abate (Quezon Province), NU’s Jolo Mendoza (Quezon Province), and Mapua’s Tucker Molina and Drex Delos Reyes (Abra), along with JC Recto from Mindoro.

A total of 28 teams, divided into North and South Divisions, will compete in the largest regional league in the country, founded by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

The defending national champion Abra Solid North, fresh off a 2026 MPBL Preseason Invitational sweep, leads the North Division along with San Juan, Caloocan, Ilagan Isabela, Bulacan, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Bataan, Pasig, Parañaque, and new team Meycauayan-Marilao.

Back-to-back South Division champion Quezon Province headlines the southern bracket, which includes Batangas, Biñan, Zamboanga, Rizal Province, Gensan, Mindoro, Sarangani, Imus, Negros, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Basilan.

The tournament follows a single round-robin format in the eliminations, with the top eight teams from each division advancing to the quarterfinals. The top four teams from each division will move on to the semifinals, and the two division winners will face off in a best-of-five series to crown their respective champions.

The North and South champions will then meet in a best-of-seven series to determine the 2026 MPBL national champion.

Abra Weavers, who swept the 2025 National Finals against the Quezon Huskers, continue to set the league's standard with key players like DJ Fenner, Jake Figueroa, Kascius Small-Martin, JD Cagulangan, and the dominant 6-foot-8 Drex Delos Reyes, alongside MVP Dave Ildefonso, 6-foot-7 Raven Gonzales, and Encho Serrano.