MPBL gets thumbs up to become a pro basketball league

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<h3>GAB reminds league to watch out vs game fixing</h3><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/12/10/mpbl.jpg" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/12/10/mpbl.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA -- The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has approved Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League&#x27;s accreditation to become a professional league on Thursday.</p><p>Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said it is the breakthrough the league has been looking for after it was temporarily halted due to the pandemic.</p><p>&quot;Over the last two years, the players have been praying for the league to resume,&quot; said Duremdes. </p><p>&quot;During those two years, the league had time to re-assess our direction. Through perseverance and patience, nandito na tayo. We are back with the help of our partner Chooks-to-Go and the guidance of GAB.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/17/21/mpbl-meets-with-gab-begins-process-of-turning-pro">MPBL meets with GAB, begins process of turning pro</a></li></ul><p>Since 2017, the MPBL operated as an amateur league. </p><p>But the pandemic along with the joint resolution of GAB and the Philippine Sports Commission on pro and amateur leagues made the league rethink its position in Philippine sports.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s such an honor for all of us to have you,&quot; said GAB chairman Abraham &quot;Baham&quot; Mitra. &quot;Madaming nangyari sa GAB over the past few years pero this is one of the biggest.</p><p>&quot;Madami nagsasabi na masarap sa pakiramdam na magpo-pro na kami. Maraming nananaginip na maging professional players at makakamit na nila ito sa MPBL.&quot;</p><p>The league&#x27;s first foray as pros begins with the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational Tournament, which takes place from December 11 to 23 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/18/21/mpbl-has-big-plans-for-2022-eyes-long-preseason">MPBL eyes long preseason, return to home-and-away format in 2022</a></li></ul><p>Twenty-two teams, which will compete in the tournament with P2 million at stake, have received their certification of accreditation as professional teams.</p><p>The 22 teams competing are Bacolod, Bacoor City, Jumbo Plastic Basilan, Bicol-LCC Malls, Bulacan, Caloocan, GenSan, Iloilo, Imus, Laguna-Krah Asia, Makati FSD, Manila, Marikina, Mindoro-EOG, Muntinlupa, Negros, Nueva Ecija, Pasig-Sta. Lucia, EMKAI-Rizal, San Juan-Go for Gold, Sarangani, and Val City-MJAS Zenith.</p><p>The teams were also briefed on the benefits of having a GAB license, including helping in player-team-league mediation, implementation of health and safety protocols, and player benefits, among others.</p><p>Moreover, teams were also reminded that GAB and the MPBL are against any form of game-fixing and point-shaving.</p><p>&quot;Because of Chooks-to-Go, the MPBL is turning professional,&quot; said Mitra. </p><p>&quot;We just want to remind everybody that we will not allow any game-fixing. Alam natin na &#x27;yan nakakasira sa ating laro. Sa ating code of conduct, nakalagay dun na you have to disassociate yourself from game-fixing and point-shaving,&quot; he continued.</p><p>&quot;We are now a pro league. With GAB with us, &#x27;yung mga players na may binabalak, magisip-isip na sila. Once na magkaroon kayo ng bad image, it will be hard to get back,&quot; added Duremdes.</p><p>RELATED VIDEO</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLqSUa3rFLg?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has approved Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's accreditation to become a professional league on Thursday.

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MPBL gets thumbs up to become a pro basketball league

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2021 04:59 PM PHT

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Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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