31st Seaoil MMBL begins this weekend

The 31st edition of the Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) is scheduled to tip off this weekend in different venues all across the Metro, with 48 high schools taking part in five divisions, which includes one for girls for a second consecutive season.

Founded by the legendary Ato Badolato, the MMBL aims to be the venue for high school players to continue their season after their respective mother leagues conclude their season in October. For the graduating players, this is their penultimate competition before they go to college.

From its simple beginnings, the MMBL has now evolved into a multiple-division league, with the top teams from UAAP tangle with their NCAA and Tiong Lian counterparts, while the smaller schools get the chance to gauge themselves against top-tier competition.

Once again, the MMBL has tied up with the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center, which serves as the grassroots hub of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pillipinas (SBP). The league now serves as the Metro Manila hub for the Seaoil National High School Basketball Championships that is scheduled to take place next year.

The Opening ceremonies will begin on Sunday, but matches in the lower divisions as well as the lone girls division will already be underway on Saturday.

The reigning champions for the boys' division are:

Div I: Hope Christian High School
Div II: Faith Academy
Div III: Colegio de San Benildo
Div IV: National University - C

The participating educational institutions:

Adamson University	Marist School
Ateneo De Manila University	National University
Caritas Don Bosco School	Our Lady of Fatima University
Chiang Kai Shek College	Quezon City Science High School
Colegio de San Juan de Letran	Reedley International School
Colegio San Agustin Biñan	Rich Golden Shower Montessori
Colegio San Benildo Rizal	San Beda College
De La Salle Lipa	San Beda College Alabang
De La Salle University Integrated School	Southridge
De La Salle Zobel	St. Benilde International School
Diliman Preparatory School	St. Dominic College Alabang
Emilio Aguinaldo College	St. James Academy
Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan	St. Jude Catholic School
Espiritu Santo Parochial School	St. Michael College Laguna
Faith Academy	St. Stephen High School
Far Eastern University	St. Thomas More Academy
Hope Christian High School	The Seed Montessori School
International School Manila	Trinity University
Jubilee Christian Academy	University of Perpetual Help Delta System
Kings Montessori	University of Santo Tomas
La Salle College Antipolo	University of the Philippines Integrated School
La Salle Greenhills	UNO High School
Lourdes School Mandaluyong	Valenuela Christian School
Malayan Institute of Technology	Xavier School