Unbeaten Pampanga extended its dominant run with a 121-88 thrashing of Bulacan on Thursday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika PIlipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season elimination round at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
It was victory No. 17 for the Giant Lanterns, who hinted of the outcome when they pulled away, 53-28, at halftime.
Defending champion Nueva Ecija dumped Valenzuela, 107-78, in the opener, while Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational titlist, squeaked past Negros, 72-71, in the second game. Exploiting their height advantage, the Giant Lanterns poured 102 points inside the paint that catapulted them to a 111-70 spread in the game marked by slams by Pampanga’s Ronan Santos and Bulacan’s Justine Guevarra.
The 6-foot-8 Santos wound up with 18 points and 5 rebounds to earn best player honors for the first time. He was supported by 6-foot-5 John Bryle Bahio and 6-3 John Lloyd Clemente with 14 points each, and so did 6-3 Michelle Maynes, 6-6 Allen Bryant Liwag and 6-8 Justine Baltazar, the MVP race pacestter, with 12 points each.
Playing for only 14 minutes, Baltazar still got another double-double with 10 rebounds plus 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Neil Tolentino was the seventh Giant Lantern in twin digits for Pampanga Governor and coach Dennis Pineda with 10.
Showing why he’s the reigning MVP, Jaycee Marcelino converted two charities with 3.7 seconds left to lift Zamboanga to its 14th win against 3 losses while pulling down Negros to 6-12.
The Muscovados could have won, but Jun Manzo flubbed his two charities with 11.1 seconds to go.
Zamboanga drew 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Judel Fuentes and 12 points plus 4 rebounds from Jhaps Bautista.