The 2018 Batangas City Athletics season was the inaugural season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). The team concluded their season as the league's inaugural champions, after defeating the Muntinlupa Cagers in four games during the 2018 MPBL finals.
Led by Val Acuña, Batangas City finished with the league's best record, winning eight out of nine games. The only loss came against the Bulacan Kuyas on March 3, 2018. The Athletics then swept its playoff opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals before meeting Muntinlupa in the inaugural finals series. After winning the first two games at home, they lost the following game 3 as the visiting team. On April 19, 2018, the Athletics would beat the Cagers by two points, claiming their first and only MPBL championship.
Regular season
Standings
Schedule 2018 Batangas City Athletics season schedule Game Date Opponent Score Location Record Recap 1 January 27 Valenzuela W 73–65 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 1–0 Recap 2 February 3 Bataan W 88–73 Batangas City Coliseum 2–0 Recap 3 February 10 Imus W 74–56 Imus City Sports Complex 3–0 Recap 4 February 17 Navotas W 80–71 Navotas Sports Complex 4–0 Recap 5 February 22 Parañaque W 87–79 Batangas City Coliseum 5–0 Recap 6 February 27 Muntinlupa W 82–77 Navotas Sports Complex 6–0 Recap 7 March 3 Bulacan L 72–80 Imus City Sports Complex 6–1 Recap 8 March 8 Quezon City W 77–68 Caloocan Sports Complex 7–1 Recap 9 March 13 Caloocan W 86–75 Batangas City Coliseum 8–1 Recap Source: Schedule
Playoffs
Bracket
Schedule 2018 Batangas City Athletics playoffs schedule Round Game Date Opponent Score Location Series Recap Quarterfinals 1 March 20 Bataan W 88–75 Batangas City Coliseum 1–0 Recap 2 March 24 Bataan W 95–82 Valenzuela Astrodome 2–0 Recap Semifinals 1 April 5 Valenzuela W 80–75 Batangas City Coliseum 1–0 Recap 2 April 7 Valenzuela W 89–64 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 2–0 Recap Finals 1 April 12 Muntinlupa W 70–64 Batangas City Coliseum 1–0 Recap 2 April 14 Muntinlupa W 78–74 Batangas City Coliseum 2–0 Recap 3 April 17 Muntinlupa L 77–82 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 2–1 Recap 4 April 19 Muntinlupa W 68–66 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 3–1 Recap Source: Schedule
References