Left with nothing but to make their hometown crowd proud, the Pampanga Lanterns did just that late Tuesday night after hammering a 91-76 victory over the Gerald Anderson-less Marikina Shoemasters in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Arena here.
The Lanterns have already been eliminated as early as last week, but coach Aldrin Morante continued to motivate his troops in putting on a good show in front of their local folks, who didn’t go home disappointed.
He got big games from three of his players who produced at least 20 or more in their latest triumph.
Michael Juico finished with 23 points on a steady 11-of-14 shooting from the field, while Juneric Baloria tallied 21 markers on top of seven boards.
But it was frontliner Allen Enriquez, who stepped up big for the Lanterns as he ended up with a double-double performance of 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lanterns improved their win-loss record to 10-14, but not enough for them to salvage a playoff berth as only eight teams will make it to the next round. They stayed at 10th spot of the northern division of this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.
Pampanga can wrap up the season with another home win against the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines on Saturday for their final elimination round assignment before starting rebuilding for next season.
Pampanga shot a steady 54-percent from the field (37-of-68) and outrebounded its counterpart, 49-34.
Without its sparkplug, Anderson, who went to the United States to visit a departed relative, the Shoemasters were a totally different team.
Yves Sazon was the lone bright spot for Marikina as he finished with 23 points, but he is the only player who finished in double figures.
Earlier, Basilan outlasted Rizal, 94-90, in a battle between two teams at the cellar of the southern division of this tournament also supported by LGR, the official outfitter of the MPBL.
Ex-pro Jojo Tangkay paced the Steel with 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the charge for his squad.