The National Basketball League (NBL), also known as NBL–Philippines or NBL–Pilipinas, is a regional professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

league in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

History

On June 7, 2018, Celso "Soy" Mercado established the league and named National Basketball League Philippines to search undiscovered talents. The league will feature an away-and-home format and will focus on giving homegrown players (aged 18–29 years old and a bonafide resident of the team's province, city or municipality) an opportunity to showcase their skills in the hope of making it to the professional and semi-professional leagues. The league began its inaugural season on August 25, 2018, with 10 teams from Luzon. Games were played every Saturdays and Sundays. 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 The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is the pre-eminent professional women's basketball league in Australia. It is currently composed of eight teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Baske ...

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. (only Bulacan, Iriga, Rizal, Zambales, Imus & Cainta begged off from competing, while Marikina Best Shoemakers are returning 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. Both leagues will start its first season as a professional league in 2021. First women’s pro league in Philippines gets GAB nod
Joey Villar,

The Philippine Star ''The Philippine Star'' (self-styled ''The Philippine STAR'') is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group. First published on July 28, 1986, by veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, ...

, August 26, 2020 After getting the green light to start from the Games and Amusements Board, the first professional season of the NBL began on July 18, 2021, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.

Format

Teams

;Notes

Former teams

List of champions

Official broadcasters

Solar Sports Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. " solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indica ...

is the official broadcaster of the game and airs NBL Games. Games are also livestreamed via the league's official Facebook and YouTube accounts. The games were aired internationally via

GMA Pinoy TV GMA Pinoy TV is a Philippine pay television channel that was launched in March 14, 2005, by GMA Network. Operated by its subsidiaries, GMA International and GMA Worldwide Inc, it is targeted towards the Philippine diaspora. Programming The ...

and streamed on the Net 25 Facebook page during seasons 2 and 3.

References

{{Sports leagues in the Philippines National Basketball League (Philippines) Basketball leagues in the Philippines Sports leagues established in 2018 2018 establishments in the Philippines