Defending champion Pampanga went through overtime to nip Nueva Ecija, 83-80, late Wednesday and forge a dream North Division title tussle with San Juan in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Homegrown stars MJ Garcia and Encho Serrano canned two free throws each to negate MJ Ayaay’s two charities in the dying seconds, enabling the Giant Lanterns to cut short their best-of-three semifinal series, 2-0, before an overflow crowd.
San Juan repeated over Caloocan, 86-80, in another semifinal encounter earlier to keep its drive going for the MPBL crown it won in 2019.
Powered by Orlan Wamar and Reynel Hugnatan, the Knights controlled the tempo and led by as far as 52-35 in duplicating their 71-65 conquest of the Batang Kankaloo in Game One.
Serrano’s two free throws with 11.5 seconds left gave Pampanga an 83-80 lead and Nueva Ecija failed to extend the game again following a turnover by JC Cullar with 3.4 ticks left.
Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL titlist, forced extra time on a triple by Ayaay, 70-70, with only 2.4 seconds to go.
The Giant Lanterns won’t be denied, however, as Archie Concepcion and reigning MVP Justine Baltazar joined forces with Garcia and Serrano to suppress the Rice Vanguards in the five-minute extension.
Bucking an aching knee, Serrano wound up with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to clinch the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Concepcion with 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks, Baltazar with 10 points, 25 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks and Garcia with 10 points, six in overtime, plus 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Wamar wound up with 15 points, including a perfect 8 of 8 free throws, and 6 assists while Hugnatan posted 13 points and 6 rebounds and was given the Daily Fantasy best player honors.
Other Knights who shone for Coach Sen. Jinggoy Estrada were Dexter Maiquez with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Michael Malonzo with 10 points and 6 rebounds that helped San Juan dominate underneath, 48-33.
