Defending champion Pampanga extended its hot run while Manila and Davao also jumped forward in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball Lague) sixth Season elimination round on Tuesday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns dumped the Imus Agimat, 136-75, for their 20th straight win after an initial loss, keeping the pace in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Not to be outdone, the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc subdued the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, 86-76, while the Davao Occidental Tigers routed the Marikina Shoemasters, 90-78.
Reigning MVP Justine Baltazar sparkled for Pampanga anew with 24 points and 14 rebounds, overshadowing Renz Alcoriza’s 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks effort.
Other Grand Lanterns who shone were Brandon Ramirez with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, Jeff Viernes with 14 points, 5 assists and 2 steals, and Kurt Reyson with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.
With Baltazar dominant, Pampanga ruled the boards, 68-42, and converted this edge to 36 more points inside the paint (72-36) than Imus.
The also-ran Imus Agimat, who tumbled to 1-20, got 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from Richard Albo, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals from Jameson Hiro, and 13 points each from Nemesis Dela Cruz and Carlo De Chavez.
Like Pampanga, Manila also showed its depth against Batangas.
Crack guard Enzo Navarro led six Stars in double figures as Manila climbed to a 15-5 card.
Navarro posted 17 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds, followed by 7-footer Greg Slaughter with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Tonino Gonzaga, Jimboy Pasturan and Jan Jamon contributed 11 points each while Joshua Torralba chipped in 10 for Manila.
Batangas, which slid to 14-7, got 17 points each from Levi Hernandez and Juneric Baloria, 14 from Cedric Ablaza and 12 from Kris Porter.
Davao drew power from Arth Dela Cruz (11 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals), JK Casino (14 points, 5 assists), Dariel Bayla (10 points, 6 rebounds) and Mark Tallo (10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) in rising to 15-6.
Marikina slumped to 6-14 despite the 21-point, 6-assist effort of Ahron Estacio, the 13-point, 8-rebound output of Eric Joseph Pili and the 10-point, 9-rebound contribution of Marlon Basco.
The MPBL returns to the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Wednesday with games pitting Bicolandia against Bulacan at 4 p.m., Quezon City against Paranaque at 6 p.m., and Quezon Province against Rizal at 8 p.m.
