DEFENDING champion Pampanga battered Abra, 79-64, on Tuesday in Game 1 of their North Division quarterfinal playoff in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the jampacked Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Shrugging off a shaky start following a 23-day break, the Justine Baltazar-powered Giant Lanterns took control at halftime, 40-26, and never yielded it back to move within a win of advancing to the semifinal round of the two-division tournament that started with 29 teams in the round-robin elimination phase.
Showing why he’s the reigning MVP, Baltazar tallied game-highs 24 points and 16 rebounds to go with 7 assists and 2 blocks to run away with the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Archie Concepcion and MJ Garcia.
Concepcion posted 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists while Garcia chalked 10 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals to help the Giant Lanterns extend their hot streak to 12 at their homecourt.
Led by Baltazar and Brandon Ramirez, who notched 8 points and 10 rebounds, the Giant Lanterns controlled the boards, 54-44, and decisively outscored the Weavers, 58-34, inside the paint.
Pampanga coach Gov. Dennis Pineda said his wards struggled to get their rhythm as they didn’t play for three weeks after securing the No. 2 spot behind the San Juan Knights in the North Division.
But once the Giant Lanterns hit their stride, they left the Weavers behind by as far as 67-46 early in the fourth quarter.
Pineda said they have a lot to work on, especially their 3-point, converting only 1 of 10 attempts, and free throw shooting, making only 14 of 28 tries, if they are to cut short the best-of-three series on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Abra, the No. 7 North qualifier, got 20 points and 4 rebounds from Wendelino Comboy, 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Ryan Batino, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals from Roi Sumang and 8 points plus 10 rebounds from Jeepy Faundo.
Earlier, Nueva Ecija subdued Pasay, 81-72, in the opener of their quarterfinal playoff and likewise move on the verge of advancing to the semifinal round.
Spearheaded by Robby Celiz, the Rice Vanguards surged ahead, 80-64, to stay.
Celiz notched 23 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, followed by JB Bahio, Emman Calo and JC Cullar.
The 6-foot-5 Bahio tallied 11 points plus 5 rebounds, Cullar 10 points plus 5 assists and Calo 10 points, all in the quarter where he scored the Rice Vanguards’ last five points.
The Rice Vanguards, being coached by Don Dulay, avenged a stingy 65-64 defeat to the Pasay Voyagers in the round-robin elimination phase and can end series at their homecourt-Nueva Ecija Coliseum–on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Mer Jesper Ayaay with 7 points and Will MCAloney and John Wilson with six points each.
Pasay got a game-high 24 points from Laurenz Victoria, 16 points from Jasper Salenga and 9 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists from Warren Bonifacio.
The MPBL Playoffs continue on Thursday at the Batangas City Coliseum with games pitting Binan against South Cotabato at 6 p.m. and Davao against Batangas at 8 p.m.
