Philippines, 07 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Support this genuine Pinoy Basketbol league


PhilBoxing.com




ONE report yesterday said ?people behind the success of the Batangas Athletics-Tanduay in the MPBL Anta Rajah Cup never expected the team to go that far.?

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League is a regional men?s professional basketball tournament organized and launched by world boxing legend Manny Pacquiao last August.

Batangas bagged the MPBL Cup by winning 3-1 in its best-of-five title series against Muntinlupa Cagers-Angelis Resort.

Two sportsmen behind the Batangas team, former mayor Dondon Dimacuha and squad sponsor Lucio ?Bong? Tan Jr. were overjoyed. Dimacuha said they harbored no big expectations when they formed the Batangas team.

**

When the MPBL had its inaugural event last year, there was a grand opening with great attendance.

The league featured both a regional commercial and barangay level format. Teams on the commercial level were allowed to have a home locality in addition to a home sponsor.

Just the same, doubts were raised on how the MPBL could succeed relying heavily on faded former PBA pros.

**

There were those who thought Manny Paquiao had taken a blind gamble.

The initial success of the MPBL warmed the heart of Sen. Pacquiao, a dedicated basketball devotee.

Fans all over the country were happy and thankful in having what they believe will be a national league belonging to the loyal native players serving Pinoy Basketbol.

MPBL appears ready and willing to take in more available native talents, including those coming from obscure tournaments in the grassroots.

**

Sen. Pacquiao has decided to come up with a national league at a time when both the PBA and the national team, under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), have been left at the mercy of imports and assorted alien participants.

Paquiao did not say it, but the MPBL must be his way of giving Philippine basketball back to the genuine Pinoy basketeer.

For the record, the rampant bastardization of Philippine basketball came about after the PBA decided to take-in a horde of Fil-Am players in the mid 90?s, following the formation of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).

That knee-jerk reaction by the PBA has resulted in the unabated deterioration of Philippine basketball.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.