# 2018 MPBL playoffs

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.

## Overview

* 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

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | Batangas City Athletics | 9 | 8 | 1 | .889 | — | Playoffs |
| 2 | Bulacan Kuyas | 9 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 2 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Muntinlupa Cagers | 9 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 2 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Valenzuela Classic | 9 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 2 | Playoffs |
| 5 | Quezon City Capitals | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | 3 | Playoffs |
| 6 | Navotas Clutch | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | 3 | Playoffs |
| 7 | Parañaque Patriots | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 | 4 | Playoffs |
| 8 | Bataan Defenders | 9 | 2 | 7 | .222 | 6 | Playoffs |
* 1 2 3 Bulacan (1.032), Muntinlupa (1.006), Valenzuela (0.965) are ranked by head-to-head point quotient.
* 1 2 Quezon City wins tiebreaker over Navotas by head-to-head victory.
* ↑ Bataan wins tiebreaker over Imus by head-to-head victory.

## Bracket

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

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

* S+A
* March 20 09:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* March 24 07:00 pm
* Box score
| Batangas City Tanduay Athletics | 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

* S+A
* March 22 09:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* March 27 07:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* April 3 09:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Parañaque Patriots | 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

* S+A
* March 22 07:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* March 27 09:00 pm
| Navotas Clutch | 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

* S+A
* March 20 07:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* March 24 09:00 pm
* Box score
| 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
* S+A
* April 3 07:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Quezon City Capitals | 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
### (1) Batangas City Athletics vs. (4) Valenzuela Classic

* S+A
* April 5 09:00 pm
* Boxscore
| 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
* S+A
* April 7 07:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Valenzuela Classic | 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

* S+A
* April 5 07:00 pm
* Boxscore
| 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
* S+A
* April 7 09:00 pm
* Boxscore
| 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
* S+A
* April 10 07:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Parañaque Patriots | 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

* S+A
* April 12 08:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Batangas City Athletics | 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
* S+A
* April 14 08:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Batangas City Athletics | 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
* S+A
* April 17 08:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Muntinlupa Cagers | 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
* S+A
* April 19 08:00 pm
* Boxscore
| Muntinlupa Cagers | 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

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