The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), also shortened as Metroball, was a professional basketball league in the Philippines that ran for five seasons from 1998 until 2002.
The MBA was established to rival the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The MBA contained between 8 and 15 teams which represented cities and provinces who played at home and away. Initially, the league was divided into two conferences: the Northern Conference for teams based in Luzon and the Southern Conference for teams based in Visayas and Mindanao. At the end of each season, the champions of each conference faced each other at the MBA National Finals to determine the league champion. Later, the MBA allowed companies to sponsor teams and attach their brand to the teams' names—and by the final season, used a three-conference format. The MBA's rules also differed slightly from the basic rules of basketball.
Each of the five seasons had a different champion: the Pampanga Dragons, Manila Metrostars, San Juan Knights, Batangas Blades, and Negros Slashers. The Negros Slashers had the most finals appearances, with four. The Northern Conference produced the most champions, with four, while the Southern Conference produced only one. A total of sixteen teams have competed in the MBA.
MBA games were broadcast on ABS-CBN Corporation's television networks from 1998 until 2001 when it moved to the state-run NBN-4 under the production of Silverstar Communications. The MBA folded in July 2002 due to high costs of maintaining the league and ABS-CBN's withdrawal of support.
History The MBA played its first game on March 7, 1998, at the Don Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The MBA was widely viewed as broadcast giant ABS-CBN's attempt to undermine the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after failing on its bid to acquire broadcasting rights for the 1998 season. Prior to the start of the MBA's inaugural season, the league had successfully poached PBA free agents for talent in order to compete.
Metroball allowed foreigners to play for their teams, not requiring Philippine passports of them, nor requiring those foreigners to have Filipino blood. All the league required was that these players be born in the Philippines.
As a direct result of this practice, the MBA and its foreign-born players began attracting attention away from the PBA, forcing the more-established league to escalate their own players' salaries and practically sidelining its rookie draft through a "direct hiring" process of foreign citizens with Filipino descent which the elder league approved in the 1998 off-season. This allowed PBA teams like the Mobiline Phone Pals and Tanduay Rhum Masters to negotiate directly with MBA players or prospects (like Asi Taulava and Sonny Alvarado) for their services.
The MBA folded on July 26, 2002, due to high expenses of funding a regional basketball league, and ABS-CBN withdrawing its funding for the league. In its immediate aftermath, the displaced players went to the semi-professional Philippine Basketball League en route to the PBA.
Format The MBA had a format similar to that of North America's National Basketball Association (NBA). The teams were divided into two conferences: the Northern Conference composed of Luzon-based teams, and the Southern Conference composed of Visayas- and Mindanao-based teams. The season concluded with the MBA National Finals, where the champions of both conferences face off to determine the season champions.
After the league adapted a semi-commercial format, in which teams are sponsored by companies, several methods were used to in determining the champion. In their final season, they have adapted a three-conference format, similar with the PBA.
Teams
Northern Conference Batangas Blades (1998–2002; team merged with Manila in 2001, known as LBC-Batangas Blades) Laguna Lakers (1998–2001; team abandoned the league after their owners FedEx joined the PBA in 2002) Manila Metrostars (1998–2001; team merged with Batangas in 2001) Nueva Ecija Patriots (1999–2001) Olongapo Volunteers (2002) (team renamed as Gilbey's-Olongapo Volunteers in 2002) Pampanga Dragons (also known as Pampanga Stars) (1998–2000; 2002) Pangasinan Waves (also known as Pangasinan Presidents) (1998–1999; 2002) Pasig-Rizal Pirates (1998–2000) (also known as Pasig Blue Pirates in 1998) San Juan Knights (1999–2001) (team renamed as Andok's-San Juan Knights in 2001)
Southern Conference Cebu Gems (1998–2002; team renamed as the Cebuana Lhullier Gems in 2001) Davao Eagles (1998–2002)(TPG /Professional Davao Eagles) (2002) Cagayan de Oro Amigos (also known as Cagayan de Oro Nuggets) (1998–2000; 2002) Iloilo Megavoltz (also known as Iloilo Volts) (1998–2000) Negros Slashers (Bacolod) (1998–2002; team renamed as the RCPI-Negros Slashers in 2002) SocSarGen Marlins (1998–2001; team renamed as the Socsargen-Taguig Marlins in 2001 when the team relocated to Taguig) Surigao Miners/Warriors (1999–2000)
Teams 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Batangas Blades / LBC-Batangas Blades Cagayan de Oro Nuggets/Amigos / Casino-CDO Amigos Cebu Gems / Cebuana Lhuillier Gems Davao Eagles / Professional Davao Eagles Iloilo Volts/Megavoltz Laguna Lakers / FedEx-Laguna Lakers Manila Metrostars / LBC-Manila Metrostars Negros Slashers / RCPI-Negros Slashers Nueva Ecija Patriots Gilbey's-Olongapo Volunteers Pampanga Dragons / Sunkist-Pampanga Stars Pangasinan Presidents / Osaka Pangasinan Waves Pasig Blue Pirates/Pasig-Rizal Pirates San Juan Knights / Andok's-San Juan Knights SocSarGen Marlins / Taguig Marlins Surigao Miners/Warriors
Involvement with the national team During its existence, the MBA lent some players or teams to represent the country in various regional competitions. 1998 — Pangasinan Presidents – 1998 ABC Champions Cup Malaysia. 1999 — Manila Metrostars – 1999 SEA Games Brunei. 1999 — Laguna Lakers – FIBA Asia Cup Japan. 1999 — Iloilo Megavolts – William Jones Cup. 1999 — Pasig-Rizal Pirates – 1999 ABC Champions Cup Lebanon. 2000 — Laguna Lakers – William Jones Cup. 2001 — FedEx-Laguna Lakers – William Jones Cup. 2001 — MBA Dream Team – SEABA Championship and 2001 SEA Games Malaysia. 2002 — MBA All Star – William Jones Cup.
Coaches
Louie Alas (Manila, 1999) Junel Baculi (Olongapo, 2002) Joel Banal (Pasig-Rizal, 1998–2000) Rolly Buenaflor (Negros, 1998) Philip Cezar (San Juan, 1999–2001) Chot Reyes (Pangasinan, 1998–1999) Lawrence Chongson (Pangasinan, 2002) Ricky Dandan (Manila, 1998) Aric del Rosario (Pampanga, 1998–1999) Binky Favis (Batangas, 1998–1999) Bonnie Garcia (Laguna, 1998–1999, 2001 / Pampanga, 2000) Danny Gavieres (Iloilo, 1999–2000) Willie Generalao (Socsargen, 2000) Bong Go (Davao, 2002) Jimmy Mariano (Surigao, 2000) Jun Noel (Negros, 1998–1999 / Davao, 2001) Nash Racela (Batangas, 2000–2002) Bong Ramos (Batangas, 2000)
Biboy Ravanes (Socsargen, 1998–1999) Chot Reyes (Pangasinan, 1999) Mike Reyes (Iloilo, 1998) Arlene Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 1999) Francis Rodriguez (Davao, 1998–2000) Robert Sison (Pangasinan, 1999 / Negros, 2000–2001) Leoncio Tan Jr. (Cebu, 1998) Joe Lipa (Nueva Ecija, 1999–2001) Allan Trinidad (Nueva Ecija, 2000 / Pampanga, 2002) Dong Vergeire (Pangasinan, 1998) Jojo Villa (Nueva Ecija, 2000) Jojo Villapando (Negros, 2002) Nemie Villegas (Nueva Ecija, 2000) Vic Ycasiano (Cagayan de Oro, 2002) Tonichi Yturri (Cebu, 1998–2002) David Zamar (Cagayan de Oro, 1998–1999 / Manila, 2000)
Venues
Araullo University Centrum-Cabanatuan Blue Eagle Gym Cebu Coliseum CEU Centrodome Centrum in De La Salle-Lipa General Santos City Gym Mail & More Complex-San Andres Mandaue City Sports Complex Mindanao Polytechnic State College-CDO Narciso Ramos Sports Complex Calasiao Sports Complex Dagupan City People's Astrodome De Venecia Sports Complex, San Fabian, Pangasinan Pampanga Convention Center Pasig Sports Complex
Philsports Arena Rizal Memorial Coliseum Rizal Memorial College Stadium San Fernando Sports Complex San Juan Gym San Luis Sports Complex Tinga Gym-Taguig University of San Agustin Gym-Iloilo city University of St. La Salle Gym-Bacolod Urios Gym-Butuan Ynares Center
Rules The MBA generally followed the basic rules of basketball but had a set of its differences compared to the PBA: The shot clock was reduced to 23 seconds, as opposed to the NBA and PBA's 24 seconds. The time limit for a team to advance the ball over the center line was reduced to eight seconds, as opposed to both the NBA and PBA's 10 seconds. The PBA later adopted the 8-second limit in 2004, two years after the MBA disbanded. Free-three – An option to trade a player's two free throws for a free three (one attempt at the three-point arc above the free throw line, worth three points if successfully made) at the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. This option was later made available at any time during the game by 1999. One-for-one situation – There were two penalty situations in the MBA: first, if a squad incurs five team fouls, the fouled player needed to successfully make the first free throw before getting the second. Two free throws were only guaranteed to a player fouled in the act of shooting if a squad incurred seven team fouls or more. Blitz Three – Introduced in 2001, any field goal converted within four seconds of a change of possession was worth three points. A red siren is installed at the backboard to indicate the Blitz Period. Foreigners were allowed to play in the league, provided that the player is born in the Philippines.
MBA Most Valuable Players Season Player Team College 1998 John Ferriols Negros USJ-R 1999 Alex Compton Manila Cornell 2000 Rommel Adducul Manila SSC-R 2001 Eddie Laure LBC-Batangas Adamson
MBA Champions Teams in bold won the MBA National Championship. Season Northern Conference Southern Conference Series 1998 Pampanga Dragons Negros Slashers 4–1 1999 Manila Metrostars Cebu Gems 4–2 2000 San Juan Knights Negros Slashers 4–22001 First PhaseAndok's-San Juan KnightsNegros Slashers3-1 2001 Second Phase LBC-Batangas Blades Negros Slashers 3–1 2002 LBC-Batangas Blades RCPI-Negros Slashers 0–3
October 31, 1998: Pampanga Dragons emerge as the first MBA champions, winning against Negros Slashers in five games. The Dragons clinch the national championship following an 89–85 victory in Game Five at the San Fernando Sports Complex. December 8, 1999: Manila Metrostars rout the Cebu Gems, 101–83 in Game Six, before a hometown crowd at the Mail & More Sports Complex in San Andres and crowned themselves the 1999 MBA national champions. November 25, 2000: San Juan Knights defeated Negros Slashers, 104–91 in Game Six, at the packed San Juan Gym for their first MBA national title since becoming one of the three new teams last season. August 24, 2001: Andok's-San Juan is champions anew in the MBA first phase tournament, scoring a 3-1 series win over Negros Slashers, the same team they beat in the national finals last year. The Knights outscored the Slashers, 30-15 in the final quarter, for a 103-90 victory. December 19, 2001: LBC-Batangas Blades captured their first MBA crown in the second phase of the 2001 season, beating hard-luck Negros Slashers, 94–75 in Game Four, for a 3–1 series victory. June 1, 2002: After four runner-up finishes, RCPI-Negros finally win their first MBA title. The Slashers completed a three-game sweep off LBC-Batangas Blades. Winning Slashers coach Jojo Villapando now joined the elite list of MBA champion coaches.
Commissioners Ramon Fernandez (1998–1999) Gregorio "Ogie" Narvasa II (2000–2001) Severino "Butch" Antonio (2001) Joaquin "Chito" Loyzaga (2002)
Rivalries