2022 MPBL finals
{{Short description|Championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2022 season}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball final
| league = MPBL
| year = 2022
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| champion = Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
| champion_coach = Jerson Cabiltes
| champion_games = 3
| runnerup = Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
| runnerup_coach = Vic Ycasiano
| runnerup_games = 1
| dates = December 2–12, 2022
| MVP = Byron Villarias
| HOFers =
| NDF result = Nueva Ecija def. San Juan, 2–1
| SDF result = Zamboanga def.
Batangas City, 2–1
}}
The 2022 MPBL finals was the championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's (MPBL) 2022 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. In the best-of-five playoff, the North Division champion Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards defeated the South Division champion Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines, as they won the league's fourth championship.{{cite news |last1=Saldajeno |first1=Ivan Stewart |title=Tough grind awaits Zamboanga, Nueva Ecija in MPBL Finals |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189743 |access-date=December 2, 2022 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=November 29, 2022}} Byron Villarias named as the season's Finals MVP.{{cite news |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/nueva-ecija-beats-zamboanga-to-win-mpbl-championship-a1373-20221212 |title=Nueva Ecija finishes off Zamboanga in Game 4 to lift MPBL trophy |work=spin.ph |date=December 12, 2022 |access-date=December 13, 2022}}
First-seeded Nueva Ecija (21–0) held homecourt advantage for the series, having a better record than Zamboanga (18–3). This marks the first finals appearance for both teams.
This was the first finals series in which neither team is based in Metro Manila.
Background
= Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards=
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards finished the 2021 MPBL Invitational as runner-up after being defeated by the Basilan Peace Riders on a championship-winning basket in overtime. They finished the regular season with a 21–0 win–loss record, making them the first team to go undefeated in the regular season. Because of this, the Rice Vanguards were able to clinch the first seed overall and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, The Rice Vanguards easily won against the Marikina Shoemasters and the Pampanga Giant Lanterns both in two games each. In the Northern Division finals, they met the 2021 season runner-up San Juan Knights, battling for the Northern Division title. In Game 1, the Rice Vanguards was defeated by the Knights for the first time this season, but they managed to win the next two games, bringing the Rice Vanguards to their first North Division title and first finals appearance.{{cite news |title= Nueva Ecija clinches MPBL North division crown |url= https://www.rappler.com/sports/game-results-mpbl-north-division-finals-nueva-ecija-san-juan-november-25-2022/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |work=Rappler |date=December 2, 2022 }}
= Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines =
The Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines ended their regular season with 18–3 win–loss record to become the top seed in the South Division and clinch homecourt advantage for the division playoffs. They easily defeated the Muntinlupa Cagers in the first round and then forced a Game 3 against the Bacolod Bingo Plus in the division semifinals. In the division finals, they faced the 2018 MPBL champion Batangas City Embassy Chill, where they lost the first game, but forced Game 3 and won, to claim the South Division title and bring Zamboanga to their first finals appearance.{{cite news |title=Zamboanga completes huge comeback to seal MPBL Finals date vs. Nueva Ecija |url=https://www.dugout.ph/2022/11/zamboanga-completes-huge-comeback-to.html |access-date=November 26, 2022 |work=Dugour |date=December 2, 2022 }}
Road to the finals
| style="width:100%; font-size:90%" class="wikitable" |
| valign=top
! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"| Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (Northern Division Champion) !! !! style="width:45%;"| Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines (Southern Division Champion) |
| align=left|
{{2022–23 MPBL Northern Division standings|showteam=NE|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}} 1st seed in the North, 1st best league record !colspan=2|Regular season |{{2022–23 MPBL Southern Division standings|showteam=ZAM|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}} 1st seed in the South, 2nd best league record |
| align=right|Defeated 8th-seeded Marikina Shoemasters, 2–0
!colspan=2|First Round |align=left|Defeated 8th-seeded Muntinlupa Cagers, 2–0 |
| align=right|Defeated 4th-seeded Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 2–0
!colspan=2|Division semifinals |align=left|Defeated 5th-seeded Bacolod Bingo Plus, 2–1 |
| align=right|Defeated 3rd-seeded San Juan Knights, 2–1
!colspan=2|Division finals |align=left|Defeated 2nd-seeded Batangas City Embassy Chill, 2–1 |
= Head-to-head matchup =
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = August 8
| time = 9:00 pm
| report = [http://mpbl.web.geniussports.com/competitions/?WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F33477%2Fmatch%2F2100691%2Fboxscore%3F Boxscore]
| teamA = Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
| scoreA = 81
| teamB = Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines
| scoreB = 76
| overtime =
| Q1 = 11–13
| Q2 = 27–16
| Q3 = 21–27
| Q4 = 22–20
| OT =
| points1 = Michael Juico 16
| rebounds1 = Michael Mabulac 7
| assist1 = Hesed Gabo 13
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Jaycee Marcelino, Jerald Bautista 15
| rebounds2 = Chris Dumapig 12
| assist2 = Irven Palencia 5
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| place = Nueva Ecija Coliseum, Palayan, Nueva Ecija
| referee =
}}
Series summary
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||
| Game | Date | Away team | Result | Home team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 2 | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | 75–81 (0–1) | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Nueva Ecija Coliseum |
| 2 | December 5 | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | 74–75 (0–2) | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Nueva Ecija Coliseum |
| 3 | December 9 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | 65–75 (2–1) | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum |
| 4 | December 12 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | 69–56 (3–1) | Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines | Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum |
Game summaries
= Game 1 =
{{2022 MPBL finals Game 1 result|bgc=#eee}}
= Game 2 =
{{2022 MPBL finals Game 2 result}}
= Game 3 =
{{2022 MPBL finals Game 3 result|bgc=#eee}}
= Game 4 =
{{2022 MPBL finals Game 4 result|bgc=#F7F6A8}}
Broadcast notes
This marked the first year of Cignal TV's rights to the MPBL finals. The series was broadcast on One PH and One Sports+ on television, and was also streamed via Facebook, YouTube, and Kumu.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| rowspan=2|Game | colspan=3|One PH and One Sports+ (Delayed Telecast) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Play-by-play | Analyst | Courtside reporter | |
| Game 1 | Cedelf Tupas | Jayvee Gayoso | Mica Abesamis |
| Game 2 | Cedelf Tupas | Louie Gonzalez | Gianna Lianes |
| Game 3 | Migs Gomez | Javi Palaña | Sel Guevara and Sydney Crespo |
| Game 4 | Migs Gomez | Javi Palaña | Mica Abesamis and Sydney Crespo |
Prizes
This season featured a new design for the championship trophy, steering away from a design modelled after the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Alongside the trophy, rings were given to the players of the championship-winning team.
The MPBL Finals Most Valuable Player award and Coach of the Year awards are also given out during the trophy ceremony.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{MPBL finals}}
{{Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 2022 MPBL Mumbaki Cup Champions}}
{{Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards}}
{{Zamboanga Master Sardines}}
{{2022 MPBL season by team}}
Category:2022 in Philippine sport