The 2018 MPBL playoffs, also known as the MPBL Anta–Rajah Cup playoffs, was the postseason tournament of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's inaugural 2018 season. This was the league's first postseason tournament, and the only tournament under the eight-team format. It began on March 20, 2018, three days after the regular season, and ended on April 10, 2018 where the Batangas City Athletics beat the Muntinlupa Cagers in the 2018 MPBL finals.[1]

2018 MPBL playoffs
MPBL Anta–Rajah Cup Playoffs
Tournament details
CountryPhilippines
DatesMarch 20 – April 19, 2018
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsBatangas City Athletics
Runner-upMuntinlupa Cagers
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played19
2019 →

Overview

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  • The Batangas City Athletics entered the playoffs for the first time in team history and clinched the best record in the league for the first time.
  • All other qualified teams entered the playoffs for the first time.

Format

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The top eight teams overall 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 three rounds with no reseeding. The first two rounds were best-of-three series and the finals was a best-of-five series.

During the first two rounds, two games 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 national finals using a 2-2-1 format.

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Batangas City Athletics 9 8 1 .889 Playoffs
2 Bulacan Kuyas 9 6 3 .667[a] 2
3 Muntinlupa Cagers 9 6 3 .667[a] 2
4 Valenzuela Classic 9 6 3 .667[a] 2
5 Quezon City Capitals 9 5 4 .556[b] 3
6 Navotas Clutch 9 5 4 .556[b] 3
7 Parañaque Patriots 9 4 5 .444 4
8 Bataan Defenders 9 2 7 .222[c] 6
Source: Standings
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Bulacan (1.032), Muntinlupa (1.006), Valenzuela (0.965) are ranked by head-to-head point quotient.
  2. ^ a b Quezon City wins tiebreaker over Navotas by head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ Bataan wins tiebreaker over Imus by head-to-head victory.

Bracket

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Quarterfinals
(best-of-3)
Semifinals
(best-of-3)
Finals
(best-of-5)
         
1 Batangas City 2
8 Bataan 0
1 Batangas City 2
4 Valenzuela 0
4 Valenzuela 2
5 Quezon City 1
1 Batangas City 3
3 Muntinlupa 1
2 Bulacan 1
7 Parañaque 2
7 Parañaque 1
3 Muntinlupa 2
3 Muntinlupa 2
6 Navotas 0

Quarterfinals

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(1) Batangas City Athletics vs. (8) Bataan Defenders

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March 20
09:00 pm
Bataan Defenders 75–88 Batangas City Tanduay Athletics
Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 19–28, 16–23, 26–16
Pts: Gary David 24
Rebs: Arvie Bringas 8
Asts: James Castro 5
Pts: Val Acuña 16
Rebs: Jaymo Eguilos 8
Asts: Lester Alvarez 10
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
March 24
07:00 pm
Batangas City Tanduay Athletics 95–82 Bataan Defenders
Scoring by quarter: 21–23, 25–19, 26–16, 23–24
Pts: Lester Alvarez 17
Rebs: Jaymo Eguilos 8
Asts: Lester Alvarez 6
Pts: James Castro 21
Rebs: James Castro 7
Asts: James Castro 7
Batangas wins series, 2–0
Valenzuela City Astrodome, Valenzuela City

(2) Bulacan Kuyas vs. (7) Parañaque Patriots

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March 22
09:00 pm
Parañaque Patriots 73–83 Bulacan Kuyas
Scoring by quarter: 13–27, 22–8, 16–24, 22–24
Pts: Juneric Baloria 16
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 13
Asts: Harold Arboleda 5
Pts: Stephen Siruma 24
Rebs: Jay-R Taganas 16
Asts: Stephen Siruma 8
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan
March 27
07:00 pm
Bulacan Kuyas 54–81 Parañaque Patriots
Scoring by quarter: 11–20, 16–20, 12–23, 15–18
Pts: Jorey Napoles 12
Rebs: Jorey Napoles 7
Asts: Jay-R Taganas 3
Pts: Juneric Baloria 26
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 13
Asts: Mark Montilla 6
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa
April 3
09:00 pm
Parañaque Patriots 77–70 Bulacan Kuyas
Scoring by quarter: 23–16, 16–25, 25–9, 13–20
Pts: Juneric Baloria 16
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 11
Asts: Ryusei Koga and Juneric Baloria 3 each
Pts: Hernal Escosio 13
Rebs: Jorey Napoles 11
Asts: Mark Monte 3
Parañaque wins series, 2–1
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan

(3) Muntinlupa Cagers vs. (6) Navotas Clutch

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March 22
07:00 pm
Muntinlupa Cagers 83–77 Navotas Clutch
Scoring by quarter: 13–22, 20–14, 20–20, 30–21
Pts: Chito Jaime 19
Rebs: Felix Apreku 11
Asts: Allan Mangahas 5
Pts: JP Calvo 12
Rebs: Chester Saldua 13
Asts: JP Calvo 7
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan
March 27
09:00 pm
Navotas Clutch 69–72 Muntinlupa Cagers
Scoring by quarter: 16–16, 12–21, 20–14, 21–21
Pts: JP Calvo 20
Rebs: Jamil Gabawan 17
Asts: Ron Dennison 4
Pts: Allan Mangahas 23
Rebs: Felix Apreku 14
Asts: Allan Mangahas 6
Muntinlupa wins series, 2–0
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa

(4) Valenzuela Classic vs. (5) Quezon City Capitals

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March 20
07:00 pm
Quezon City Capitals 89–96 Valenzuela Classic
Scoring by quarter: 27–14, 19–24, 26–29, 17–29
Pts: James Collado 19
Rebs: Gian Abrigo 13
Asts: Hesed Gabo 9
Pts: Rocky Acidre 21
Rebs: Henryford Ruaya 7
Asts: Rocky Acidre 5
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
March 24
09:00 pm
Valenzuela Classic 68–76 Quezon City Capitals
Scoring by quarter: 17–14, 15–21, 14–19, 22–22
Pts: Henryford Ruaya 17
Rebs: Jeff Javillonar 10
Asts: RJ Argamino 4
Pts: Hesed Gabo 17
Rebs: James Collado 10
Asts: Gian Abrigo 3
Valenzuela City Astrodome, Valenzuela City
April 3
07:00 pm
Quezon City Capitals 72–74 Valenzuela Classic
Scoring by quarter: 26–23, 15–18, 20–18, 11–15
Pts: PeeJay Barua 23
Rebs: James Collado 8
Asts: Hesed Gabo 7
Pts: Paolo Hubalde 21
Rebs: Henryford Ruaya 10
Asts: Paolo Hubalde 6
Valenzuela wins series, 2–1
Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan

Semifinals

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(1) Batangas City Athletics vs. (4) Valenzuela Classic

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April 5
09:00 pm
Batangas City Tanduay Athletics 80–75 Valenzuela Classic
Scoring by quarter: 30–8, 10–27, 17–16, 23–24
Pts: Paul Varilla 17
Rebs: John Quinto 7
Asts: Lester Alvarez 6
Pts: Adrian Celada 23
Rebs: Adrian Celada 10
Asts: Adrian Celada 5
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
April 7
07:00 pm
Valenzuela Classic 64–89 Batangas City Tanduay Athletics
Scoring by quarter: 15–24, 21–16, 18–28, 10–21
Pts: Paolo Hubalde 12
Rebs: Mark Andaya 11
Asts: RJ Argamino 5
Pts: Val Acuña 16
Rebs: Dennice Villamor 10
Asts: Bernabe Teodoro 3
Batangas wins series, 2–0
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa

(3) Muntinlupa Cagers vs. (7) Parañaque Patriots

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April 5
07:00 pm
Parañaque Patriots 84–59 Muntinlupa Cagers
Scoring by quarter: 27–12, 23–16, 12–18, 22–13
Pts: Ryusei Koga 24
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 9
Asts: Ryusei Koga 8
Pts: Dave Moralde 16
Rebs: Felix Apreku 11
Asts: Al Vergara 3
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
April 7
09:00 pm
Muntinlupa Cagers 66–56 Parañaque Patriots
Scoring by quarter: 19–13, 16–21, 11–6, 20–16
Pts: Chito Jaime 26
Rebs: Felix Apreku 14
Asts: Allan Mangahas 7
Pts: Juneric Baloria 17
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 14
Asts: Ryusei Koga 4
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa
April 10
07:00 pm
Parañaque Patriots 70–81 Muntinlupa Cagers
Scoring by quarter: 24–14, 16–17, 11–26, 19–24
Pts: Harold Arboleda 18
Rebs: Harold Arboleda 14
Asts: Harold Arboleda 7
Pts: Chito Jaime 22
Rebs: Felix Apreku 16
Asts: Allan Mangahas 5
Muntinlupa wins series, 2–1
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa

MPBL finals: (1) Batangas City Athletics vs. (3) Muntinlupa Cagers

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April 12
08:00 pm
Batangas City Athletics 70–64 Muntinlupa Cagers
Scoring by quarter: 16–14, 10–16, 22–14, 22–20
Pts: Bernabe Teodoro 20
Rebs: Mark Olayon 9
Asts: Bernabe Teodoro 4
Pts: Dave Moralde 12
Rebs: Felix Apreku 9
Asts: Allan Mangahas 4
Batangas leads series, 1–0
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
Referees: Geraldo Gabriel, Don Al De Dios, Julius Tiquio
April 14
08:00 pm
Batangas City Athletics 78–74 Muntinlupa Cagers
Scoring by quarter: 13–14, 25–10, 22–22, 18–28
Pts: Jaymo Eguilos 16
Rebs: John Quinto 9
Asts: Lester Alvarez 7
Pts: Chito Jaime 18
Rebs: Felix Apreku 10
Asts: Allan Mangahas 4
Batangas leads series, 2–0
Batangas City Coliseum, Batangas City
Referees: Jorge Serapia, Jhovet Ocfemia, Rommel Alcoran
April 17
08:00 pm
Muntinlupa Cagers 82–77 Batangas City Athletics
Scoring by quarter: 27–14, 17–22, 20–15, 18–26
Pts: Allan Mangahas 23
Rebs: Felix Apreku 13
Asts: Allan Mangahas 8
Pts: John Quinto 14
Rebs: Jaymo Eguilos 12
Asts: Mark Olayon 5
Batangas leads series, 2–1
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa
Referees: Dan Marabe, Geraldo Gabriel, Bert Gica
April 19
08:00 pm
Muntinlupa Cagers 66–68 Batangas City Athletics
Scoring by quarter: 12–16, 16–27, 19–11, 11–14
Pts: Pari Llagas 19
Rebs: Pari Llagas 14
Asts: Allan Mangahas 3
Pts: Moncrief Rogado 14
Rebs: Paul Varilla 9
Asts: Mark Olayon,
Bernabe Teodoro 4 each
Batangas wins series, 3–1
Muntinlupa Sports Center, Muntinlupa
Referees: Geraldo Gabriel, Don Al De Dios, Rey Dillena

Media

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All playoff games this season were aired on ABS-CBN's S A channel as part of its broadcast rights with the league.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Tupas, Cedelf P. (April 24, 2018). "Tanduay Athletics' spirits rise with MPBL". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Grassroots Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League tips off on ABS-CBN S A". ABS-CBN News. January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2018.