User:TheGoldenArmor375/2018 MPBL Datu Cup

The 2018 MPBL Datu Cup or  for sponsorship reasons, is the second tournament of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and the first full season with a national scope. The tournament is patterned after the current format of the National Basketball Association of the United States, which it is divided into two divisions: The Northern and the Southern Divisions. The tournament is expected to run for a span of 9–11 months, according to league commissioner Kenneth Duremdes. The almost year-long conference is scheduled to open in June 12, 2018, coinciding with the Philippine Independence Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City and will end with the conclusion of the MPBL Finals around next year.

Format

 * All 26 teams will be divided into two divisions or groups: the North and South Divisions, which consist 13 teams each.
 * In the elimination round, teams will play in a single round-robin format, with each team playing 25 games, in a home-and-away basis. Even they will be divided into two groups, teams will still play in a round-robin.
 * At the end of the eliminations, the top eight teams in each divisions will qualify for the playoffs. The top four (4) teams in each division will earn home-court advantage throughout the divisional playoffs.
 * For the playoffs, The first round and the division semifinals will be a best=of-3 series, while the division finals and the MPBL Finals will be a best-of-5 series.
 * For the first round and in the division semifinals, the team with the home-court advantage will host Games 1 and 3 (if necessary) in their homecourts, while in the division finals and the MPBL Finals (National Finals), the team with the home-court advantage will host Games 1, 2 and 5 (if necessary).
 * In all of the rounds, the team with the better elimination round record will have home-court advantage.

Standings
Groupings can be seen here: