Defending champion Pampanga thumped Pangasinan, 74-50, on Thursday and stretched its hot streak in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Riding on Justine Baltazar’s stellar performance, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns posted their 15th straight win after an initial loss in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament, trailing only the 14-0 Quezon Huskers.
In other games, Pasay subdued Bacolod, 77-67, and Valenzuela nipped Muntinlupa, 73-71.
The 6-foot-8 Baltazar, the reigning league MVP who is joining the PBA Rookie Draft, posted 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks as Pampanga led by as far as 66-40 over Pangasinan, which skidded to 6-9.
Other Giant Lanterns who shone were Archie Concepcion with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and Lervin Flores with 12 points and 14 rebounds that led to their board dominance, 54-36.
Baltazar clustered seven points to push Pampanga further ahead, 51-37, after the third quarter then opened the fourth with a dunk that sparked a 9-point run that decided the outcome, 60-37, with still 7 minutes and 41 seconds to go.
The Pangasinan Heatwaves suffered a meltdown with Hesed Gabo emerging top scorer with 9 points, followed by Ralph Robin and Michel Mabulac with just 6 points each.
Powered by Dhon Reverente, the Pasay Voyagers clustered 14 points to pull away, 52-38, en route to a 9-7 slate.
Reverente finished with 20 points, including 13 in the third quarter, 11 rebounds and 3 assists to clinch best player honors over Warren Bonifacio, who finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists plus 2 steals, and Laurenz Victoria, who tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Voyagers led by as far as 77-60 midway through the fourth quarter and pulled Bacolod, which got 23 points and 6 rebounds from homegrown Alfred Sedillo and 13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, plus 2 steals from Louie Vigil, down to 1-16.
The Valenzuela Classics clawed their way up from a 25-46 hole to seize control, 68-60, before quashing the Muntinlupa Cagers’ final assault en route to a 9-8 card.
Michael Angelo Macion paced Valenzuela with 15 points and 4 rebounds, followed by veteran Paolo Hubalde with 13 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
