2019 MPBL Finals

The 2019 MPBL Finals, also known as the 2019 MPBL Datu Cup Finals, was the championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's (MPBL) 2018–19 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The North Division champion San Juan Knights defeated the South Division champion Davao Occidental Tigers, 3–2, as they were crowned the league's second champions. Mike Ayonayon is also named the season's Finals MVP.[1]

2019 MPBL Finals
TeamCoachWins
San Juan Knights Randy Alcantara 3
Davao Occidental Tigers Don Dulay 2
DatesApril 11–25, 2019
MVPMike Ayonayon
Northern finalsSan Juan def. Manila, 2–1
Southern finalsDavao Occidental def.
Batangas City, 2–1

Both the first-seeded Davao Occidental and third-seeded San Juan held the same regular season record (20–5), but the former held homecourt advantage as they beat San Juan in their regular season match-up. It is the first of back-to-back Finals between the two teams.

Background

San Juan Knights

The San Juan Knights entered the season as heavy favorites to win the national championship, as they are loaded with a mix of ex-pro players, collegiate players and homegrown players. They finished the regular season with a 20-5 win loss record, tying with the Manila Stars for third place as both teams had an identical record. The Knights were able to clinch the third seed as they defeated the Stars in the eliminations. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, The Knights easily dealt the Navotas Clutch and the Quezon City Capitals both in just two games each series. The Division Finals saw their sister team, Manila Stars battling them for the Northern Division title. The series went to a decider, where the team would eventually defeat the Stars in Game 3 to clinch North Division title and move to their first ever MPBL Finals appearance.

Davao Occidental Tigers

Davao Occidental Tigers came in to the tournament as the 2018 Preseason Champions winning over the Manila Stars in the finals. The Tigers ended their regular season with 20–5 win-loss record, to become the top seed in the South Division and clinch homecourt advantage for the division playoffs. They easily defeated the Cebu City Sharks and the Bacoor City Strikers in the first round and in the division semifinals, both sweeping in two games each series. In the division finals, they faced the defending champions Batangas City Athletics but were pushed to the limits, even forcing a Game 3 decider before escaping the Athletics, to claim its division title and advance to its first ever MPBL Finals appearance.[2]

Road to the Finals
San Juan Knights (Northern Division Champion)Davao Occidental Tigers (Southern Division Champion)
Pos Team Pld W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Bataan Risers 25 23 2 .920 — Playoffs
2 Makati Super Crunch 25 21 4 .840 2
3 San Juan Knights 25 20 5 .800[lower-alpha 1] 3
4 Manila Stars 25 20 5 .800[lower-alpha 1] 3
5 Bulacan Kuyas 25 14 11 .560 9
6 Navotas Clutch 25 13 12 .520 10
7 Quezon City Capitals 25 12 13 .480 11
8 Caloocan Supremos 25 11 14 .440[lower-alpha 2] 12
9 Pampanga Lanterns 25 11 14 .440[lower-alpha 2] 12
10 Valenzuela Classic 25 10 15 .400 13
11 Mandaluyong El Tigre 25 8 17 .320[lower-alpha 3] 15
12 Pasay Voyagers 25 8 17 .320[lower-alpha 3] 15
13 Pasig Pirates 25 4 21 .160 19
Source: Standings
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head record: San Juan 1–0 Manila
  2. Head-to-head record: Caloocan 1–0 Pampanga
  3. Head-to-head record: Mandaluyong 1–0 Pasay
3rd seed in the North, 4th best league record		 Regular season
Pos Team Pld W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Davao Occidental Tigers 25 20 5 .800 — Playoffs
2 Batangas City Athletics 25 15 10 .600[lower-alpha 1] 5
3 Muntinlupa Cagers 25 15 10 .600[lower-alpha 1] 5
4 GenSan Warriors 25 14 11 .560 6
5 Bacoor Strikers 25 13 12 .520 7
6 Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines 25 12 13 .480 8
7 Imus Bandera 25 11 14 .440[lower-alpha 2] 9
8 Cebu City Sharks 25 11 14 .440[lower-alpha 2] 9
9 Laguna Heroes 25 10 15 .400 10
10 Parañaque Patriots 25 9 16 .360 11
11 Marikina Shoemasters 25 8 17 .320 12
12 Basilan Steel 25 7 18 .280[lower-alpha 3] 13
13 Rizal Crusaders 25 7 18 .280[lower-alpha 3] 13
Source: Standings
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head record: Batangas City 1–0 Muntinlupa
  2. Head-to-head record: Imus 1–0 Cebu City
  3. Head-to-head record: Basilan 1–0 Rizal
1st seed in the South, 3rd best league record
Defeated 6th-seeded Navotas Clutch, 2–0 First Round Defeated 8th-seeded Cebu City Sharks, 2–0
Defeated 7th-seeded Quezon City Capitals, 2–0 Division Semifinals Defeated 5th-seeded Bacoor City Strikers, 2–0
Defeated 4th-seeded Manila Stars, 2–1 Division Finals Defeated 2nd-seeded Batangas City Athletics, 2–1

Head-to-head matchup

Since both teams have an identical 20–5 win-loss record, the Davao Occidental Tigers will hold the homecourt advantage for the title series as they defeated the San Juan Knights in the eliminations.

December 18
09:00 pm
Davao Occidental Tigers 87–75 San Juan Knights
Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 21–17, 24–17, 23–24
Pts: Emman Calo 23
Rebs: Calo, Raymundo 9 each
Asts: Terso, Robles 5 each		 Pts: Larry Rodriguez 14
Rebs: Larry Muyang 10
Asts: Larry Rodriguez 5
Rizal Memorial College Gymnasium, Davao City
Referees: Dan Marabe, Julius Tiquio, Jojo Belnas

Series summary
GameDateVenueWinnerResult
1April 11Davao City Recreation CenterSan Juan84–74
2April 13Rizal Memorial College GymDavao Occidental67–60
3April 16Filoil Flying V CentreSan Juan67–62
4April 22Filoil Flying V CentreDavao Occidental77–66
5April 25Rizal Memorial College GymSan Juan87–86

MPBL Finals Series

Game 1
April 11
9:00 pm
Davao Occidental Tigers 74–84 San Juan Knights
Scoring by quarter: 17–25, 15–24, 24–17, 18–18
Pts: Emman Calo 27
Rebs: Yee 8
Asts: Custodio 6		 Pts: Wilson 21
Rebs: Wilson, Clarito 8 each
Asts: Cardona 5
San Juan leads series, 1–0
Davao City Recreation Center, Davao City
Referees: Jovet Ocfemia, Dan Marabe, Michael Quinay

Game 2
April 13
3:30 pm
Davao Occidental Tigers 67–60 San Juan Knights
Scoring by quarter: 21–13, 16–16, 16–11, 14–20
Pts: Billy Robles 17
Rebs: Bogs Raymundo, Yee 10
Asts: Yee 5		 Pts: Ayonayon 17
Rebs: Rodriguez 8
Asts: Wilson 4
Series tied, 1–1
Rizal Memorial College Gymnasium, Davao City

Game 3
April 15
9:00 pm
San Juan Knights 67–62 Davao Occidental Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 13–20, 18–9, 20–24, 16–9
Pts: Ayonayon 15
Rebs: Jhonard Clarito 18
Asts: Cardona, Isit 3 each		 Pts: Bogs Raymundo 15
Rebs: Yee 13
Asts: Custodio 4
San Juan leads series, 2–1

Game 4
April 22
9:00pm
San Juan Knights 66–77 Davao Occidental Tigers
Scoring by quarter: 17–12, 17–17, 19–16, 13–32
Pts: Orlan Wamar 19
Rebs: Wilson 12
Asts: Ayonayon 5		 Pts: Billy Robles 22
Rebs: Billy Robles 18
Asts: BIlly Robles 3
Series tied, 2–2
Filoil Flying V Centre, San Juan
Referees: Bert Gica, Jay Castroverde, Carol Guay

Game 5
April 25
9:00 pm
Davao Occidental Tigers 86–87 San Juan Knights
Scoring by quarter: 15–21, 20–28, 33–14, 18–24
Pts: Yee 27
Rebs: Yee 7
Asts: Robles 4		 Pts: Ayonayon 33
Rebs: Larry Rodriguez 13
Asts: Cardona, Wamar 5 each
San Juan wins series, 3–2
Rizal Memorial College Gymnasium, Davao City
Referees: Jay Castroverde, Michael Quinay, Carol Guay

Broadcast notes

ABS-CBN Sports and ABS-CBN Regional Network Group is the official broadcaster of the Datu Cup Finals that were aired via S+A, ABS-CBN and on Fox Sports Philippines.

Fox Sports Philippines provided the English-language coverage of the title series.

GameS+A & Fox Sports Philippines
Play-by-playAnalystCourtside reporter
Game 1Martin AntonioChristian LuanzonShiela Salaysay
Game 2Martin AntonioChristian LuanzonShiela Salaysay
Game 3Cedelf TupasRodney SantosSel Guevara
Game 4Martin JavierChristian LuanzonNikki Viola
Game 5Cedelf TupasJayvee GayosoSel Guevara

Prizes

The San Juan Knights won the P10 million pesos worth of 18-karat gold trophy, similar to that NBA's Larry O'Brien Trophy, and ball rings which will await the National Champions as per league founder Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.[3]

References
  1. "MPBL: San Juan downs Davao Occidental captures title in dramatic fashion". ABS-CBN Sports. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. Joble, Rey (8 April 2019). "MPBL: Davao Occidental devours Batangas, books trip to MPBL National Finals". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  3. "MPBL: National Champions to get trophy worth ten million pesos". 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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