The MPBL All-Star Game is an exhibition game hosted by the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and showcases 30 of the league's star players. It is held during the latter part of the regular season alongside a series of pre-game events within the same day. The first All-Star Game was played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on March 2, 2019.[1]
| MPBL All-Star Game | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Inaugurated | 2019 (Pasay) |
| Previous event | 2023 (Balanga, Bataan) |
| Participants | North Division and South Division all-stars |
| Organized by | Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League |
The two teams, representing the two divisions (North and South), are composed of fifteen players from the representing division. The head coaches of the team with the best record in each division are chosen to coach their respective teams.
Background
editThe MPBL All-Star Game was introduced during the league's second season, the 2018–19 season. The first edition of the event took place on March 2, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.[1] Two teams from each division, comprised of fifteen players (thirteen players in 2022), are matched against one another. The teams are led by the head coach of the team with the best record in each division.
The 2020 edition also took place at SM Mall of Asia Arena,[2] but since then the All-Star Game has been hosted by one of its teams in its primary home venue. The Batangas City Embassy Chill hosted the 2022 edition at Batangas City Coliseum while the Bataan Risers hosted the 2023 edition at Bataan People's Center.[3][4]
The All-Star Game is usually preceded by a series of pre-game events. The Executives' Game, Three-Point Shootout, and Slam Dunk Showdown have become regular events, appearing in every All-Star gameday from the beginning.
All-Star Game results
editThis is a list of each All-Star Game, the venue at which it was played, and the Game MVP. Parenthesized numbers indicate the number of times that venue, city, or player has occurred as of that instance (e.g. "Jeff Viernes (2)" in 2020 indicates that was his second All-Star MVP award). The South Division currently leads the all-time series, 3–1, over the North Division.
| North Division (1 win) | South Division (3 wins) |
|---|
| Year | Result | Host arena | Host city | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | South 109, North 84 | SM Mall of Asia Arena | Pasay | Jeff Viernes, Batangas City Athletics |
| 2020 | South 126, North 122 (OT) | SM Mall of Asia Arena (2) | Pasay (2) | Jeff Viernes (2), Batangas City Athletics |
| 2022 | South 109, North 92 | Batangas City Coliseum | Batangas City, Batangas | Jaycee Marcelino, Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines |
| 2023 | North 99, South 91 | Bataan People's Center | Balanga, Bataan | Justine Baltazar, Pampanga Giant Lanterns |
References
edit- ^ a b "South tops North as Viernes, Anderson shine in MPBL All-Stars". Rappler. March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ "Jeff Viernes named MVP as South wins in OT in MPBL All-Star game". spin.ph. February 14, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ "MPBL All-Star: South beats North anew; Manny Pacquiao hits buzzer-beater in Executives game". Inquirer. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Sports, Manila Standard (September 17, 2023). "North subdues South in MPBL All-Star Game; Pacquiao, Wamar, Gania shine in side events". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 31, 2023.