Kapit-bisig sa Basketbol

I've once written that there is no deeper love for basketball than by Filipinos. Filipinos are the best basketball fans in the world. They may not be the tallest, heftiest players, but they are the best fans in the whole world. They are fierce and loyal to the core.

- ATTY. MIKE TOLEDO

This love for the sport is not only for the professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) or the National Basketball Association (NBA) of North America, nor for global competitions such as that of the International Basketball Federation, the Federation Internationale de Basketball or FIBA, not even for the fiercely competitive (even among fans) collegiate basketball with the UAAP or NCAA.

This adoration for basketball extends to the private and public sectors as well; and to have government agencies and private corporations play against each other, well, that is fandom at another level.

Thus, the birth of the Makabansa Basketball League or MBL, a basketball tournament involving teams from different government offices and private groups formed to promote health and wellness and foster camaraderie amongst the participants through sports.

The MBL aims to solidify partnerships in and among the public and private sectors, to better serve the public, through sportsmanship, camaraderie, and healthy competition.

Just recently, Season 3 of the MBL opened in ceremonies at the Meralco Fitness Center, reviving the inter-sectoral tournament that last saw action in 2018 with its second season.