DUBAI, December 3 ------ The Pampanga Giant Lanterns flaunted their strength with a breezy 88-71 victory over the Quezon Huskers in Game One of their MPBL Sixth Season National Finals on Monday at the Al Nasr Club's Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall.
Powered by Justine Baltazar, Archie Concepcion and Brandon Ramirez, North Division champion Pampanga allowed South Division titlist Quezon to score first before seizing control at 3-2 and keeping the rein till the end in the first championship game of a Philippine-based league to be held on foreign soil. Baltazar, on track to retain the MPBL MVP, posted 24 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while Concepcion tallied 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist.
The stocky but springy Ramirez notched 11 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist and was handed best player honors. Other Giant Lanterns who shone for Pampanga coach Gov. Dennis Pineda were Rence Alcoriza with 9 points and 3 rebounds, Kurt Reyson with 8 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, and MJ Garcia with 5 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 block.
Their combined efforts more than compensated for the early departure of gunner Encho Serrano, who got ejected after catching Huskers star LJay Gonzales with an elbow to the jaw at the 8 minute, 28-second mark of the second quarter and Pampanga ahead, 29-20.
Homegrown Rodel Gravera was the lone bright spot for Quezon, chalking 20 points, including five triples, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in just 16 minutes and 33 seconds of play. Judel Fuentes, made just three of 16 attempts and settled for 8 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, while Al Francis Tamsi ended up with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists for Quezon coach Eric Gonzales.
Game Two of the best-of-five series will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, with the Giant Lanterns, backed by hundreds of Kapampangans, again favored to prevail. The Finals will resume with Game Three on Dec. 7 at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampnga.
With the 6-foot-8 Baltazar and the 6-5 Ramirez patrolling the middle, the Giant Lanterns ruled the boards, 48-38, and outscored the Huskers inside the paint, 50-32. Back-to-back triples by Gravera and Fuentes helped push Quezon to within 43-49 early in the third quarter, but Ramirez, Concepcion and Jeff Viernes joined forces to quell the rally, 57-43.
The Huskers were further hampered by poor free throw shooting, sinking only three of nine attempts. The Giant Lanterns converted 15 of 22 charities, highlighted by the perfect 6 for 6 performances of Baltazar and Concepcion. Baltazar started hot, pouring in 12 points as Pampanga led, 24-20, after the first quarter. Concepcion then took over in the second quarter, dumping eight points in a 12-2 run that handed Pampanga a 47-32 spread.
MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao watched the game promoted by DJMC Events. He will banner an MPBL selection that includes Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and Operations Head Emmer Oreta against the Dubai All-Stars put up by social media influencer Kris Fade in an exhibition game on Monday.
Source: spin.ph
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