The 2019 MPBL finals, also known as the 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][2] This finals matchup would go on to ignite a rivalry between the two teams.
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.
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 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.[3]
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.
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.
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.[4]