Pampanga teams Royce Hotel and the G Lanterns sprung big surprises against tournament favorites last Monday night to move within a win of the Big Dance in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup.
Joshua Flores scored 19 points and grabbed two rebounds as Pampanga Royce crushed defending champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife 98-74 in Game 1 of their best-of-3 semifinals battle at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Jolo Mendoza chipped in 15 points spiked by four three-pointers, while Allen Liwag and reigning NCAA MVP Will Gozum added 12 and 10, respectively for Pampanga Royce, which can finish off the bewildered Tigers in the second game of the race-to-2 series today at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Same with the G Lanterns, who trounced erstwhile unbeaten San Juan 93-83 in their own Last Four duel.
A deciding tiff or tiffs, if necessary, will be played on Friday.
Six-foot-9 big man Justine Baltazar wound up with a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds, on top of four assists to lead the G Lanterns, while Louie Sangalang added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Archie Concepcion and Michael Galicia also had 12 and 11, respectively for the G Lanterns.
