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    Gov Pineda proud to see Delta add to Pampanga's proud basketball legacy

    Dennis Pineda feels twice a winner as Delta lift NBL title, Pampanga bubble ends without a hitch
    Oct 29, 2020

    CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Governor Dennis Pineda offered the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 3 crown to his constituents at a time when the province like the rest of the country is reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Delta capped an impressive season-long run by beating La Union, 76-68, on Wednesday night, wrapping up the best-of-five finals, 3-1.

    The NBL title adds to the growing number of basketball accomplishments of the province, which also won a championship in the defunct MBA and produced a long line of PBA stars led by Ato Agustin and Arwind Santos.

    But Pineda said it didn't come easy.

    Pineda said it was a tough road to redemption for the Delta after losing to the Taguig Generals in the Season 2 championship tiff. The team also had to change players entering the bubble since its core of college players had to beg off after the NBL's promotion to professional status.

    Finals MVP Levi Hernandez, Michael Juico, and Dexter Maiquez came in to replace Encho Serrano and Justine Baltazar for the championship series, but the Delta new boys still needed to gel with the holdovers.

    “Inaalay ko ito sa mga Kapampangan. Nung una, lumaban kami, nabigo kami noon, pero nagtulung-tulong kaming mga Kapampangan players,” said Pineda, who is also the head coach of the club that bears his name.

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    “Biglang dumating ang pandemic, we needed to change players kasi hindi puwedeng i-sacrifice ang mga [pang] inter-collegiate namin. Pero still, sa span of more than one month, na-buo ko ‘yung mga bata at nagtulungan kami,” said Pineda.

    Pineda also commended La Union for a gallant fight that saw the PAOwer pull the rug from under Pampanga in Game Two, 84-80.

    “You are a great team, La Union. Sabi ko nga, taas noo dapat kayo umuwi sa probinsya dahil binigyan niyo ng magandang laban ang probinsya,” said Pineda.

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      Pineda also lauded the efforts of the NBL to stage a bubble, which was hosted by the province. Pineda and team manager Alan Trinidad were given plaques of appreciation prior to Game Four for their support.

      “Totoo naman na we need to live with this pandemic. Nandito na ito. Hindi dapat maging hadlang sa liga natin. Naging successful ang bubble. Walang naapektuhan. Good for the NBL na natuloy ito,” said Pineda.

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