The 2018–19 Bataan Risers season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). The team finished with a league-best 23–2 record, but lost in the Division Semifinals to the Manila Stars in three games.
Bataan was able to improve from their 2–7 record in the previous season with their sixth win against the Makati Skyscrapers on September 1, surpassing their previous campaign in win percentage. On November 27, they clinched their first ever winning season with their 13th win against the Caloocan Supremos. Both wins were part of the team's 14-game winning streak. By the end of the regular season, the Bataan Risers finished 23–2, only losing to Manila and San Juan during the season. With a .920 winning percentage, they hold the highest such in the league's semi-professional era.
The Risers entered the playoffs with the league's best record at the first seed in the North Division. They first swept Caloocan in the Division Quarterfinals before stumbling upon Manila in the Division Semifinals. After winning game 1, Bataan would lose the next two games, ending their campaign. As of 2023, the 2018–19 Bataan Risers are currently the only first-seeded team to have not won a championship.
The Risers played all of their home games this season at the Bataan People's Center in Balanga.
Regular season Standings
Schedule 2018–19 Bataan Risers season schedule Game Date Opponent Score Location Record Recap 1 June 16 Manila L 82–89 San Andres Sports Complex 0–1 2 June 27 Batangas City W 81–67 Bataan People's Center 1–1 3 July 6 Davao Occidental W 91–88 Navotas Sports Complex 2–1 4 July 18 General Santos W 62–58 Bataan People's Center 3–1 5 July 28 Imus W 95–85 Navotas Sports Complex 4–1 6 August 8 Quezon City W 101–68 Blue Eagle Gym 5–1 7 September 1 Makati W 72–70 Lagao Gymnasium 6–1 8 September 12 Valenzuela W 59–55 Bataan People's Center 7–1 9 September 22 Cebu City W 76–69 Ynares Sports Arena 8–1 10 October 4 Pampanga W 87–74 Valenzuela Astrodome 9–1 11 October 23 Bulacan W 63–49 Bataan People's Center 10–1 12 November 3 Pasay W 77–60 Bataan People's Center 11–1 13 November 12 Basilan W 108–77 Angeles University Foundation 12–1 14 November 27 Caloocan W 94–81 Batangas City Coliseum 13–1 15 December 4 Bacoor City W 84–75 Strike Gymnasium 14–1 16 December 10 San Juan L 67–61 Bataan People's Center 14–2 17 December 20 Rizal W 88–74 Blue Eagle Gym 15–2 18 January 7 Zamboanga W 76–74 Bataan People's Center 16–2 19 January 16 Navotas W 84–78 Bataan People's Center 17–2 20 January 28 Laguna W 77–70 Alonte Sports Arena 18–2 21 February 4 Muntinlupa W 67–63 Bataan People's Center 19–2 22 February 12 Mandaluyong W 109–65 Valenzuela Astrodome 20–2 23 February 18 Marikina W 81–64 Marist School 21–2 24 February 28 Parañaque W 102–73 Bataan People's Center 22–2 25 March 7 Pasig W 105–87 Navotas Sports Complex 23–2 Source: Schedule
Playoffs
Schedule 2019 Bataan Risers playoffs schedule Round Game Date Opponent Score Location Series Recap Division Quarterfinals 1 March 12 Caloocan W 91–71 Bataan People's Center 1–0 2 March 20 Caloocan W 83–71 San Andres Sports Complex 2–0 Division Semifinals 1 March 26 Manila W 73–72 Bataan People's Center 1–0 2 March 28 Manila L 76–80 Filoil Flying V Centre 1–1 3 April 1 Manila L 51–56 Bataan People's Center 1–2 Source: Schedule
References