Manny Pacquiao-founded league to join East Asia Super League as new partner next season

Abra Weavers, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League champions, will compete in 2026-27 EASL season, which starts in first week of October

The Filipino professional basketball league founded by Manny Pacquiao is joining the East Asia Super League as its newest partner, the regional league announced on Wednesday.

Launched in 2017 by boxing great Pacquiao, 47, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s (MPBL) reigning champions, Abra Weavers, will compete in the 2026-27 EASL season, which tips off in the first week of October.

A young team in the Philippines league, the Weavers joined the MPBL only in 2024, but they quickly established themselves as one of its elite teams before capturing the championship in just their second season.

“This is a proud moment for the MPBL,” Pacquiao, the eight-weight world champion, said. “From the beginning, our vision has been to create opportunities for Filipino basketball to continue growing. The Abra Weavers have shown what is possible when a team represents its community with ambition, discipline and pride.

“They earned the right to call themselves MPBL champions, and now they have the opportunity to represent our league and Philippine basketball against some of the best teams in Asia.”

MPBL chief executive Joe Ramos added that it was an “important milestone” to have a representative in the EASL.