LOS BA?OS, Laguna?In a conference where playing at home has not resulted in any tangible advantage for home teams in the elimination phase, the national playoffs formally start today with four teams opening up the best-of-five quartefinals in their homecourt.

The battles begin with the second seed Trace-Laguna Stallions against seventh seed Smart-Pampanga Buddies in Game 1 of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II at the Trace College gym.

The Stallions of Erwin Genuino and coach Nomar Isla occupied the top of the Liga Tour Standings from Day 1, only to be dislodged by the Misamis Oriental Meteors on the last day of the conference supported by Smart, ML Kwarta Padala, Air21, Accel, Burlington, Laptop Phoneshop Exchange, Nature?s Spring and Molten and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

?This will be a great playoffs. All the teams have gotten better and more competitive. Strangely, homecourt has not really been an advantage to the home teams. But it?s usually different come the next round,? Liga president Noli Eala said.

The Stallions finished with 42 points, winning legs in General Santos City and Iloilo and placing second in Ilocos Sur and at home in Laguna.  They finished with an overall 12-4 win-loss card.

The Buddies (7-9) blew hot and cold this conference, winning the Ilocos Sur leg en route to 20 points. The team finished in third place in the Cebu leg and last place in Laguna and at home in Pampanga.

The series? first three games will be played over the next three days at the Stallions? home floor.  If needed, the series? next two games will be at the Holy Angel University in the City of Angeles.