Filbasket
Current season, competition or edition: FilBasket 2022 Summer Championship | |
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| Founder | Jai Reyes Buddy Encarnado |
| Inaugural season | Subic Championship (2021) |
| No. of teams | 13 |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Most recent champion(s) | AICC Manila (Subic Championship) |
| Most titles | AICC Manila (1 title) |
| Official website | filbl |
The Filipino Basketball League, also known as Filbasket, is a professional basketball league in the Philippines founded in 2021. Its first season was launched on October 28, 2021, featuring eleven basketball teams and ran for a period of 26 days, with AICC Manila clinching the league title.
History[]
The Filipino Basketball League (Filbasket) was established by former UAAP college player Jai Reyes and Buddy Encarnado of the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors in 2021.[1][2] It was founded as a means to provide a platform for basketball players whose careers were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic community quarantine measures. This includes players of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) which saw its 2019–20 season delayed due to COVID-19 measures. Hence many teams from the MPBL have joined the FilBasket, while not leaving the former, in a bid to play more competitive games.[2]
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) of the Philippine government contends that Filbasket is a professional league and not an amateur league as the league organizers believe, hence the league falls under its jurisdiction.[3] The FilBasket organizers admitted that the long-term plan is for the league to become a professional league although it maintains that it will be an amateur league initially.[4] The dispute was reportedly resolved in October 2021, with FilBasket pushing through with its first tournament, the FilBasket Subic Championship.[3] Filbasket secured approval from SBMA and the IATF for a bubble tournament at the , in accordance to regulations for amateur leagues.[5]
The FilBasket Subic Championship concluded with AICC Manila being the winners. However the GAB issued a cease and desist order insisting that FilBasket is a professional league[6] and declared the tournament held last year as unlawful although it did not impose any further sanctions.[7]
Filbasket started the process of turning into a professional league recognized by the GAB on February 22, 2022.[8] By March 1, 2022, the league was already granted professional status by the GAB.[9]
Teams[]
| Name | Locality | Main sponsor | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFP-FSD Makati Cavaliers | Makati | FSD Auto Insurance | Ronnie Cahanding |
| AMA Online Education Titans | Quezon City | AMA University | Mark Herrera |
| All-Star Bacolod Ballers | Bacolod | BingoPlus | Alexander Angeles |
| Immaculada Concepcion College Blue Hawks | Caloocan | N/A | Jay Agsalud |
| Kuala Lumpur Aseel (guest team)[10] |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | N/A | Teng Chong Siew |
| Danao City MJAS Zenith | Danao, Cebu | MJAS Zenith Trading | Aldrin Morante |
| Tanduay Rum Masters | N/A | Tanduay Distillers | Cholo Villanueva |
| Muntinlupa Angelis Resort - EOG Sports | Muntinlupa | Angelis Resort EOG Sports Management |
Jack Azcueta |
| Nueva Ecija Capitals | Nueva Ecija | N/A | Jerson Cabiltes |
| San Juan Knights - Go For Gold | San Juan | Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation | Randy Alcantara |
| Zamboanga Family's Brand Atami Sardines | Zamboanga City | Universal Canning Inc. | Vic Ycasiano |
Former teams[]
| Name | Locality | Main sponsor | Head coach | First season | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7A Primus | N/A | 7A Sports Management | Justin Tan | Subic Championship (2021) | |
| AICC Manila | Manila | Almeria International Construction Corporation | Jerson Cabiltes | Subic Championship (2021) | |
| Davao Occidental Tigers | Davao Occidental | United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation | Matthew Makalintal | Subic Championship (2021) | |
| Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors | Pasig | Sta. Lucia Realty | Segundo Dela Cruz III | Subic Championship (2021) | |
Venues[]
| Year | Season | Arena | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FilBasket Subic Championship | Subic Bay Gymnasium | Olongapo, Zambales |
| 2022 | FilBasket Summer Championship | San Jose Del Monte City Sports Complex Muntinlupa Sports Center Paco Arena |
San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Muntinlupa Paco, Manila |
References[]
- ^ Joble, Rey (October 29, 2021). "Why FilBasket insists it is an amateur league". Manila Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Joble, Rey (August 11, 2021). "Sta. Lucia joins FilBasket League". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Mendoza, Martin (October 25, 2021). "Filbasket clears up GAB issue, to push through with inaugural tournament". Rappler. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Rosale, Dale (October 27, 2021). "FilBasket kicks off Thursday". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Reyes, Kate (July 22, 2021). "Jai Reyes to formally open FilBasket this August". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Navarro, June (November 23, 2021). "GAB issues cease and desist order vs Filbasket". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (January 14, 2022). "GAB fires warning after Filbasket's maiden tournament ruled 'unlawful'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ Li, Matthew (February 22, 2022). "Filbasket, Super League begin process of turning pro". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ "Pro status, new teams boost Filbasket ahead of second season". ABS-CBN News. March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ "Team Reveal