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| New commissioner Emmer Oreta said that he is still looking at a 30-team MPBL for Season 8. Peter Baltazar |
PASIG—Newly-installed commissioner Emmer Oreta said on Friday night that the MPBL is expected to still have 30 participating teams for the upcoming eighth season.
Speaking during the launch of Basilan's new lineup at Discovery Suites, Oreta said that he based it on last season's count, which indeed had 30 clubs in it.
The Steel franchise played as the Portmasters last year, following a tie-up with Starhorse Shipping, but the Lamitan-based squad will be back as simply the Steel with Hegem Furigay and Mujiv Hataman, the club's original team owners, taking over the management again.
"As of now, we are still counting on 30 teams from the previous season, because as far as I know, wala pa namang memo coming from the teams," Oreta said.
This also implies that, as it stands, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan are still part of the count even if they already expressed their intent to take a leave of absence for this season.
"Wala namang formal letter na natanggap ang MPBL, so as of now, di namin nire-recognize na magli-leave sila," the commissioner added.
However, according to Oreta, the Rice Vanguards, the 2022 national champions, are planning to defer their LOA even if they already let go of their lineup last year.
Four of Nueva Ecija's previous holdovers, John Wilson, Ryan Costelo, Bobby Balucanag, and Tyrone Chan, joined their former assistant coach, Arnold Oliveros, in Basilan, with Oliveros named the Steel's new head coach.
"What I've heard is someone will take over Nueva Ecija," Oreta revealed, although he did not divulge further details.
He also said that he is waiting for an official word from Pangasinan regarding its plans for the 2026 season.
"We're still waiting and hoping na magpatuloy pa rin sila for this coming season," Oreta further said.
MPBL founder and president Manny Pacquiao previously warned teams that taking a leave of absence is no longer allowed, with sanctions awaiting those who do so, including the possible revocation of their franchise.
Oreta further said that the MPBL plans to begin its regular season on April 11, right after Holy Week.
A person privy to the situation told Dugout Philippines that the regional league is looking at the possibility of holding simultaneous opening rites for both the North and South Divisions in different cities.
