2019 MPBL Playoffs

The 2019 MPBL playoffs, also known as the MPBL Datu Cup playoffs, was the postseason tournament of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2018–19 season, the league's second overall, and the first under the 16-team playoff format. The postseason tournament began on March 12, day after the end of regular season on March 11, 2019, and ended at the conclusion of the 2019 MPBL finals. The 2019 MPBL finals saw the Davao Occidental Tigers battled San Juan Knights for the national championship, with the Knights winning in five games, 3 games to 2.

Overview

* The Bataan Risers entered the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and clinched the best record in the league for the first time in team history.
* The Davao Occidental Tigers entered the playoffs for the first time, and clinched the best record in the South Division for the first time in team history.
* The Batangas City Athletics, Bulacan Kuyas, Muntinlupa Cagers, Navotas Clutch, and Quezon City Capitals entered the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
* The Bacoor City Strikers, Caloocan Supremos, Cebu City Sharks, GenSan Warriors, Imus Bandera, Makati Super Crunch, Manila Stars, San Juan Knights, and Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines entered the playoffs for the first time in team history.

Format

Due to the league's expansion, the playoff was expanded to feature sixteen teams instead of eight. The top eight teams from each division advanced to the playoffs. Seeding was based on winning percentage, with tiebreaker rules applied should multiple teams have the same record. The single-elimination bracket consists of four rounds with no reseeding. The first three rounds were best-of-three series and the national finals was a best-of-five series.

During the first two rounds, two games within the same division were played in a gameday, with homecourt advantage alternating between the higher-seeded teams of each series. A traditional homecourt format was then used for the last two rounds, with the division finals using a 1-1-1 format and the national finals using a 2-2-1 format. The designated home team may not be able to play within its home locality. Should it occur, the gameday may take place elsewhere.

Division standings

North Division

South Division

Playoff qualifying

On January 7, 2019, the Manila Stars clinched the first playoff berth of the season.

North Division

South Division

Bracket

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its division, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. Teams with home court advantage, the higher seeded team, are shown in ''italics''.

First round

Northern Division

(N1) Bataan Risers vs. (N8) Caloocan Supremos

This is the first playoff meeting between the Bataan Risers and the Caloocan Supremos.

(N2) Makati Super Crunch vs. (N7) Quezon City Capitals

This is the first playoff meeting between the Makati and the Quezon City.

(N3) San Juan Knights vs. (N6) Navotas Clutch

This is the first playoff meeting between the San Juan Knights and the Navotas Clutch.

(N4) Manila Stars vs. (N5) Bulacan Kuyas

This is the first playoff meeting between Kuyas and Stars.

Southern Division

(S1) Davao Occidental Tigers vs. (S8) Cebu City Sharks

This is the first playoff meeting between the Davao Occidental Tigers and Cebu City Sharks.

(S2) Batangas City Athletics vs. (S7) Imus Bandera

This is the first playoff meeting between the Batangas City Athletics and the Imus Bandera.

(S3) Muntinlupa Cagers vs. (S6) Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines

Allan Mangahas who earned 17 assists in the game, broke the previous record of 15 assists previously held jointly by Mikee Reyes and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. to become the league's newest record holder for most assists made in a single game.

This is the first playoff meeting between the Muntinlupa Cagers and the Zamboanga Valientes.

(S4) General Santos Warriors vs. (S5) Bacoor City Strikers

This is the first playoff meeting between Bacoor City Strikers and the General Santos Warriors.

Divisional semifinals

Northern Division semifinals

(N1) Bataan Risers vs. (N4) Manila Stars

This is the first playoff meeting between the Manila Stars and the Bataan Risers.

(S7) Quezon City Capitals vs. (S3) San Juan Knights

This is the first playoff meeting between San Juan Knights and Quezon City Capitals.

Southern Division semifinals

(S1) Davao Occidental Tigers vs. (S5) Bacoor City Strikers

This is the first playoff meeting between the Bacoor City Strikers and the Davao Occidental Tigers.

(S2) Batangas City Athletics vs. (S6) Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines

This is the first playoff meeting between the Zamboanga Valientes and the Batangas City Athletics.

Divisional finals

Northern Division finals: (N4) Manila Stars vs. (N3) San Juan Knights

This is the first playoff meeting between the Manila Stars and the San Juan Knights.

Southern Division finals: (S1) Davao Occidental Tigers vs. (S2) Batangas City Athletics

This is the first playoff meeting between Davao Occidental Tigers and Batangas City Athletics.

MPBL finals: (S1) Davao Occidental Tigers vs. (N3) San Juan Knights

The San Juan Knights and the Davao Occidental Tigers will battle for the national championship to become the first ever Datu Cup Champion and the second MPBL Champions.

References

{{2018–19 MPBL season by team

Playoffs
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League playoffs
2019 in Philippine sport