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| Caloocan and Binan will host two games each to open MPBL's eighth season. MPBL (file photo) |
MANILA—For the first time ever, the MPBL will begin its most exciting season yet with not one, not even two, but four games in a single night.
A copy of the schedule for the MPBL's opening month obtained by Dugout Philippines from an insider on Saturday night confirmed that a quadruple-header, divided into two twinbills in separate places, will open the regional league's eighth season on Friday night.
As already revealed before, the Caloocan Sports Complex and Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan will host the opening night festivities.
Both arenas will host two games each, with both the Batang Kankaloo and Tatak Gel playing their season openers at their respective turfs.
Caloocan will host Quezon City in the second game of the doubleheader at the Caloocan Sports Complex, while Biñan will host GenSan in the nightcap of the Alonte Sports Arena matches.
Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. tip-offs.
Coach Jerson Cabiltes will make his debut as the Batang Kankaloo's new head coach, as he inherits a solid lineup led by longtime allies Robby Celiz and Cris Bitoon and star rookies Kean Baclaan, Kymani Ladi, and Dom Escobar.
On the other hand, Nic Cabanero makes his regular-season debut for the Tatak Gel at home as they renew their brewing rivalry with the Warriors.
The curtain-raiser in Caloocan will see Mike Phillips making his much-awaited pro debut with San Juan against Pasay.
Over in Biñan, Cebu takes on Rizal in the first game there in what could be Dondon Hontiveros' first piece of action back as a professional basketball player after eight years.
Both games will simultaneously start at 5 p.m.
It remains to be seen which among the four games will be nationally televised on Solar Sports.
Action shifts to the Batangas City Sports Coliseum next Saturday, with the home team, back to being the Athletics, hosting the Ilagan Cowboys in one of the two inter-conference battles scheduled for the night.
Manila takes on Mindoro in the other North vs. South duel right before the Ilagan-Batangas City game, while the opening salvo of the tripleheader will see Bulacan taking on Parañaque.
A second team hailing from Bulacan will make its debut on April 13 after acquiring the franchise relinquished by Muntinlupa.
The former Cagers were initially rechristened as the Marilao Gems, but the schedule reflected that they are now representing Meycauayan.
The Gems will face the Zamboanga Sikat in the first game of the April 13 fixtures, followed by the showdown between the Valenzuela Darkhorses and Basilan Steel, and later the clash between the Sarangani Marlins and Marikina Shoemasters.
The Iloilo franchise, which became the launchpad of CJ Cansino's stellar pro career, makes a return to the league after taking 2025 off.
The team now known as Rise Iloilo will debut on April 14 against the Bataan Risers at the Ynares Center 2 in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The Imus Braderhood take on the Bacolod Masskara in the second game, while the Golden Coolers host the Batang Kankaloo in the third game.
Imus is scheduled to make its first game back at home after spending the entire 2025 season playing outside the Imus Sports Complex on April 20, hosting Iloilo in the main game of the tripleheader, although it is subject to changes.
The Braderhood had their supposed home games last year moved elsewhere due to the sudden unavailability of the arena.
The Abra Weavers' title defense will begin on April 21 with a showdown against the Patriots at the Caloocan Sports Complex, directly preceding the Batang Kankaloo's home game against the Tamaraws.
Opening the tripleheader on the said date is an early rematch of the South Division Finals between Quezon and Biñan.
The Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, which made history last year when it became the first major indoor sports arena to host the MPL Philippines Playoffs, is scheduled to hold two Voyager home stands on April 22 and 28.
The MPBL is also scheduled for stops at the San Andres Sports Complex here, Olivarez College Coliseum in Parañaque, Bataan People's Center in Balanga, Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, Meycauayan Sports Complex, and Malolos Sports Complex.
