The 2023 MPBL All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on September 16, 2023, during the

2023 season 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

of the

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is a men's professional sports, professional basketball league in the Philippines. History Manny Pacquiao launched the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on August 29, 2017, starting off as a ...

(MPBL). It was the fourth edition of the MPBL All-Star Game, which took place at the Bataan People's Center in Balanga,

Bataan Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the ...

, the home arena of the Bataan Risers. The North Division won against the South Division for the first time with a score of 99–91.

Justine Baltazar Justine Baltazar (born February 19, 1997) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He is listed at 6 feet 9 ½ inches (2.07 m). Early life and education Bal ...

was declared the All-Star Game MVP.

All-Star Game

Coaches

The two coaches of each division's highest-ranked team up to that point coached the all-star rosters of their respective divisions. On September 1, 2023, it was revealed that Governor

Dennis Pineda Dennis "Delta" Garcia Pineda (born May 6, 1974) is a Filipino politician, basketball head coach and businessman from the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. He currently serves as the Governor of Pampanga. He was a former Vice Governor ...

of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns would coach the North All-Stars, and Alex Angeles of the Bacoor City Strikers would coach the South All-Stars.

Lineups

The South Division reserves were announced on September 9, 2023. Former MVP

John Wilson John Wilson may refer to: Academics * John Wilson (mathematician) (1741–1793), English mathematician and judge * John Wilson (historian) (1799–1870), author of ''Our Israelitish Origin'' (1840), a founding text of British Israelism * John Wil ...

of the

GenSan Warriors The GenSan Warriors are a professional basketball team currently playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. It has played in National Basketball Conference from 2007 to 2008 as GenSan MP PacMan Warriors, in Liga Pilipinas from 200 ...

earned his second all-star selection alongside Marco Balagtas of the Muntinlupa Cagers, the latter joined teammate and first-time all-star JL Delos Santos. CJ Catapusan and Renzo Navarro both made their all-star debuts for

Iloilo Iloilo (), officially the Province of Iloilo ( hil, Kapuoran sang Iloilo; krj, Kapuoran kang Iloilo; tl, Lalawigan ng Iloilo), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the City of Iloilo, the ...

while Lucena mayor Mark Alcala earned his first selection for

Quezon Quezon, officially the Province of Quezon ( tl, Lalawigan ng Quezon), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Kalilayan was the first known name of the province. It was later renamed Tayabas. In honor of the ...

. Bacoor City's James Kwekuteye,

Batangas City Batangas City, officially the City of Batangas ( fil, Lungsod ng Batangas), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 351,437 people. Batangas City ...

's Mark Neil Cruz,

Imus Imus, officially the City of Imus ( fil, Lungsod ng Imus), is a 3rd class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and ''de jure'' Capital city, capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Cavite, Philippines ...

's Jimboy Estrada, and Zamboanga's Joseph Gabayni also earned their first all-star selections. The South Division starters were announced on September 10, 2023. Kyt Jimenez of the

and reigning MVP

Jaycee Marcelino Jaycee Carlos Marcelino (born October 19, 1995) is a Filipino basketball player for the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 17th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2019 PBA draf ...

of the

Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines The Zamboanga Family's Atami Brand Sardines, formerly the Zamboanga-Family's Brand Sardines Valientes, are a professional basketball team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Its name is due to sponsorship with Universal Canning Inc. ...

started for the second straight season after earning their second all-star selections. Starters that also made their first appearance in the All-Star Game include Bacoor City's Michael Cañete,

Jeckster Apinan Jeckster Apinan is a Filipino professional player for the Batangas City Embassy Chill of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was born and raised in Roxas City, Capiz. He played college ball for JRU Heavy Bombers before entering ...

, and

's Poypoy Actub. The North Division reserves were announced on September 11, 2023. Troy Mallillin of the Rizal Golden Coolers made his second all-star appearance alongside teammate Jboy Gob, who made his first all-star appearance. Representing the hosting Bataan Risers was first-time all-star Yves Sazon. All joining the All-Star Game for the first time were

Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...

's Rence Alcoriza,

Makati Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentratio ...

's Emman Calo,

Marikina Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina ( fil, Lungsod ng Marikina), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 456,159 people. It is loca ...

's Felipe Chavez,

Nueva Ecija Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...

Roi Sumang Shej Roi R. Sumang (born December 12, 1990) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Early life and high school career He is the eldest of six children of Jess and ...

, Pasig City's Jason Ballesteros and Ryan Costello, and

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...

's Adrian Nocum. The North Division starters were announced on September 12, 2023.

Robby Celiz Robby Cruz Celiz (born September 7, 1988) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Makati OKBet Kings of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 17th overall in the 2013 PBA draft by the Tropang Texters. H ...

of the Makati OKBet Kings and Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards made their second all-star appearance, with the former also earning his first starter selection. The

Pampanga Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga ( pam, Lalawigan ning Pampanga; tl, Lalawigan ng Pampanga ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tar ...

duo of

and Encho Serrano made their all-star debuts alongside

's Orlan Wamar Jr. The South Division replacements were announced on September 15, 2023. Jhan Nermal of the Bacoor City Strikers started in place of injured teammate Michael Cañete.

's CJ Catapusan opted out for personal reasons and was replaced by teammate Josh Flores as a reserve.

Muntinlupa Muntinlupa, officially the City of Muntinlupa ( fil, Lungsod ng Muntinlupa), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the ...

's John Amores took the reserve spot of JL Delos Santos due to the latter's collegiate commitments with José Rizal University. ;Notes

Game

Pre-game events

Executives' Game

MPBL founder

Manny Pacquiao Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. (; born December17, 1978) is a Filipino politician and former professional boxer. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. He served as a Senator of the Phil ...

won his second Executives' Game MVP award as the South Executives defeated the North Executives, 114–63.

Three-Point Shooutout

; Notes * Player highlighted in gold is the event's defending champion. * Players highlighted in green are contestants from the hosting team.

Slam Dunk Showdown

; Notes * Players highlighted in green are contestants from the hosting team.

References

{{2023 MPBL season by team

All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or d ...

2023 Events Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 ** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law. ** Croatia will adopt the eu ...