No. 1 Bataan opens Datu Cup playoff bid

Top seed Bataan and fourth-ranked Manila seek to gain a headstart in their respective best-of-three series as the MPBL Datu Cup North division playoffs get going on Tuesday night at Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City, Bataan.

Winning all but two of their 25 regular season games, the Risers are the heavy favorites against the eighth seed Caloocan Supremos in the 9 p.m. encounter.

The Stars, who finished the elimination phase with a 20-5 record, battle the No. 5 Bulacan Kuyas in the 7 p.m. duel, marking the start of their best-of-three series. The winners of both series will face off in the second round.

With veteran Gary David getting plenty of help this season, the Risers have turned things around after a first-round exit in the Datu Cup last year.

But Caloocan will go into the postseason on a three-game winning run with coach John Kallos targeting an upset behind do-it-all guard Almond Vosotros.