MMBL season in halfway point, San Beda, Chiang Kai Shek lead the way

Familiar names dominate the different divisions of the 30th season of the SeaOil Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL), led by perennial high school powerhouse San Beda.

The NCAA juniors champions under Britt Reroma own a 6-0 record in Division I-A, while the UAAP juniors champions Far Eastern University is in second place with a 5-2 record, a game ahead of Chiang Kai Shek.

Division I-B is the only division in the MMBL where its teams tote a blemish on their record, with Hope Christian High School and National University share the lead with a 4-1 record. A half-game back is Xavier with a 3-1 record.

Hope Christian High School ended the year toting two trophies that will certainly boost their confidence for the 2nd half of the MMBL season, recently bagging the juniors' division of the Fr. Martin's tournament, as well as winning the first-ever Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) last month against the San Sebastian College-Recoletos in The Arena in San Juan.

Meanwhile, the B-squads of San Beda, NU and the University of Santo Tomas lord over Division II. The Red Cubs own a 7-0 record, which leads Division II-A, with the Bullpups a game back with a 6-1 record.  The Tiger Cubs lead Division II-B with a 6-0 record, followed by Xavier's B-team with a 3-1 record.

It had been announced late last year that the MMBL's champions for Division II will join the top three teams of Division I as NCR's representatives for the NBTC National High School Championships, or more familiarly known as the Elite League.
     
Completing the cast of division leaders are College of San Benildo-Rizal (Division III-A), San Beda College-Alabang (Division III-B), National University's Team C (IV-A) and Xavier's Team B (IV-B).

In the inagural girls division, Chiang Kai Shek owns a 7-0 record, with La Salle-Zobel in second with a 5-1 win-loss slate.

The MMBL matches will resume this month at these venues:  San Beda College, International School-Manila, St. Stephen's High School and the PhilSports Arena.

The standings as of January 3, 2013:

Division 1-A

San Beda College-A                                    6-0
Far Eastern University-FERN A                   5-2
Chiang Kai Shek College-A                         4-3
Colegio San Juan de Letran                          3-2
De La Salle Zobel-A                                    3-2
Our Lady of Fatima University                      1-3
University of Santo Tomas A                        1-3-1
Adamson University                                     0-7

Division 1-B

Hope Christian High School                                   4-1
National University                                                4-1
Xavier-A                                                               3-1
Ateneo High School                                               2-2
San Sebastian College Recoletos                           2-3
Malayan Institute of Technology                             1-4
University of the Philippines Integrated School       0-4

Division II-A

San Beda College-B                       7-0
National University-B                      6-1
Faith Academy-A                           3-2
De La Salle Zobel-B                       3-4
Far Eastern University-FERN B      2-4
Arellano University                         1-2-1
Chiang Kai Shek College-B            1-4
Uno High School                             0-5

Division II-B

University of Santo Tomas-B                  6-0
Xavier-B                                                3-1
San Sebastian College Recoletos-B        3-2
Emilio Aguinaldo College                        2-2
St. Stephen’s High School-A                  2-3-1
International School Manila-A                 2-3
Kings Montessori School                        0-6

Division III-A

College of San Benildo-Rizal            7-0
San Beda College-C                        5-1
Escuela de Sofia of Caloocan           4-1
Rich                                                 4-2
St. Jude Catholic School                  2-4-1
Trinity University of Asia                   1-4
Southridge School-A                        1-5
Gymnazo Christian School                0-6

Division III-B

San Beda College Alabang-A          7-0
Colegio de San Agustin-Biñan         4-1
Reedley International School           4-2
Lourdes School of Mandaluyong     3-2
St. Andrew’s School                       3-3
International School Manila-B         2-4
Southridge School-B                      0-3-2
Australian International School        0-6

Division IV-A

National University-C                     7-0
ESPS                                             5-1
Chiang Kai Shek College-S            4-2
SNCA-B                                       4-2
La Consolacion College-Manila      3-4
Southridge School-C                      2-5
Dominican College Sta. Rosa          1-4-1
St. Stephen’s High School-B           0-7

Division IV-B

Xavier School                                 6-0
La Salle College-Antipolo               5-1
San Beda College-D                       5-1
St. James Academy                        4-2
The Seed Montessori School          2-4
Faith Academy B                            2-5
Our Lady’s Angels School              0-6
Quezon City Science High School   0-5

Girls

Chiang Kai Shek College-               7-0
De La Salle Zobel                           5-1
La Salle College-Antipolo               4-2
Uno High School                            3-3
Faith Academy                               2-4
Casimiro Ynares Memorial School  1-3
St. Jude Catholic School                 1-6
Hope Christian High School            0-4

70 teams mark 30th Anniversary of MMBL

The Metro Manila Basketball League turns thirty this year, and will celebrate its anniversary with a kickoff of its tournament on November 10 at the Ynares Center in Pasig.

Now known as the Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) thanks to its tie-up with the Filipino independent petroleum firm, it is one of the longest running high school basketball tournaments in the country.

Formed by the legendary coach Ato Badolato of San Beda HS, the MMBL served as a means for high school basketball players to play on after their own respective league conclude in October, like the NCAA or the UAAP. Some of the players that have played in this league include current San Beda College assistant coach Benjie Paras, UAAP basketball analyst Kirk Long and current collegiate standouts Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas.

From the original seven, eight or nine teams that heralded the league in its early years, the MMBL has now grown into a massive collection of schools, with 70 teams overall. 62 of those 70 are entered for the boys, with the competitive field spread out into four divisions. They also have eight schools for the newly-created girls division.

The divisional concept had been developed after schools backed out when they learn that powerhouse schools like San Beda, Ateneo or La Salle were participating. It also served as a opportunity for players from lesser known-schools to be seen by coaches and recruiters for the different collegiate leagues.

Kirk credits participating in the league as to how Norman Black discovered him back when he was still playing for Faith Academy. His father, Jeff, served as Faith Academy's athletic director and brought him around the games, where he had seen Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo dominate back then as standouts for St. Francis of Assisi. The MMBL also is where the newly-minted TNT head coach discovered then-Chiang Kai Shek standout Justin Chua. The big man not long after became part of all five UAAP title teams under Black's regime.

Kiefer and Kevin both noted the importance of the MMBL in improving their games, noting that the league serves as a "stepping stone" to the next level and an opportunity to step up for those who normally would not receive the necessary playing time with their mother league/s.

For its 30th anniversary, the MMBL has tied up with the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to serve as the NCR wing for the NBTC National High School Championships, a.k.a. the Elite League. The top three teams in Division I as well as the champion of Division II get the slots allotted to Metro Manila in the competition, which also has slots for teams in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The kick-off will be at Ynares Arena in Pasig, but games will also be played at other venues, like the PhilSports Arena, St. Placid's Gym in San Beda and St. Stephen's High School.

Participating high schools include Adamson University, Chiang Kai Shek College, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle Zobel, Far Eastern University-FERN, Our Lady of Fatima University, San Beda College, University of Santo Tomas, Arellano University, Faith Academy, National University, UNO High School, College of San Benildo Rizal, Escuela de Sofia of Caloocan, Southridge School, St. Jude Catholic School, Trinity University of Asia, Gymnazo Christian School, La Consolacion College Manila, Dominican College Sta. Rosa, Espiritu Santo Catholic School, San Beda College Alabang, St. Stephen’s High School, Casimiro Ynares Memorial School, Hope Academy, Ateneo de Manila University, Hope Christian High School, Malayan Institute of Technology, University of the Philippines Integrated School, Xavier School, Emilio Aguinaldo College, International School Manila, Kings Montessori School, Australian International School, Armanda College, Colegio San Agustin Biñan, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, St. Andrew’s School, La Salle College Antipolo, Our Lady’s Angels School, Quezon City Science High School, St. James Academy, and The Seed Montessori School.