The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), or Metroball, was a professional basketball league in the Philippines that ran from March 7, 1998, to July 26, 2002.
History
The MBA played its first game on March 7, 1998, at the Don Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Unlike the Philippine Basketball Association, in which teams represent companies, the MBA teams represented a particular city, province or island in the country. The league brought basketball closer to the people, and it raided the PBA for talent.
The MBA was widely viewed as broadcast giant ABS-CBN's attempt to undermine the PBA after failing to snatch its broadcast rights in 1998.
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 PBA to escalate their own players' salaries and practically rendering the PBA draft useless through a "direct hiring" process.
This allowed PBA teams like Talk 'N Text and Tanduay to negotiate directly with MBA players or MBA prospects (like Asi Taulava and Sonny Alvarado) for their services.
However, the league folded on July 26, 2002, due to extremely high expenses on funding a regional basketball league, and most especially when broadcast partner ABS-CBN withdrew funding for the league. Several players went to the semi-professional Philippine Basketball League en route to the PBA.
Season format
The MBA had a season similarly styled to that of the National Basketball Association. The teams were grouped into two conferences: Northern (Luzon and Metro Manila) and Southern (Visayas/Mindanao). The season concluded with the MBA National Finals, where the Northern Conference champion faced the Southern Conference champion to decide the MBA Championship.
After the league adapted a semi-commercial format (teams are sponsored by companies), several methods were used to in determining its 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 Presidents (also known as Pangasinan Waves) (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) 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 played its home games in Taguig) Surigao Miners/Warriors (1999–2000)
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) 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)