Pampanga rode on two scoring spurts to thwart Sarangani, 99-92, on Friday and extend its hot streak in the OKBet-MPBL (Maaharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the packed Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando.
Powered by Justine Baltazar, the Giant Lanterns greeted the first quarter with a 12-point salvo to pull away, 84-72, then bunched 9 points behind Louie Sangalang and Baltazar to defuse the Marlins’ final rally, 99-86, and seal their 12th straight win in the elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
In other games, Nueva Ecija rebounded from a stinging defeat the last time with a 95-53 drubbing of Quezon City Gaz N Go, while the Quezon Huskers, with Jason Opiso and Robin Rono in tow, subdued the Manila Stars, 73-62, to rise to 9-4.
Showing why he’s the league’s leading scorer and rebounder, the 6-foot-8 Baltazar ended up with 22 points and 17 rebounds and barely missed a triple-double with 9 assists. The former La Salle star and Gilas member also had 3 steals after more than 37 minutes of play.
Bolstered by Sherwin Concepcion, Kemark Carino and Roi Sumang, the Rice Vanguards climbed to 21-1.
Concepcion, former star gunner of Oriental Mindoro, made an instant impact with 15 points and so did the 6-foot-8 Carino with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Mike Juico scored 14 points and Mike Mabulac added 11. Orin Catacutan, another prized acquisition, did not see action.
Raffy Verano paced Quezon with 18 points, followed by Ximone Sandagon with 12 and Rodel Gravera 10.
