DEFENDING champion Pampanga regained its footing with a 143-94 rout of Bacolod on Tuesday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.
Derailed by San Juan, 80-86, on Aug. 30, Pampanga vented its wrath on Bacolod, leading by as many as 53 points (141-88) en route to its 24th win against 2 losses, just behind San Juan (23-1) in the North Division.
READ San Juan Knights put an end to Pampanga's 23-game win streak
Reigning MVP Justine Baltazar posted his fifth triple-double this year with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on top of 2 blocks. It was Jeff Viernes, however, who clinched best player honors with his 22 points and 4 rebounds.
Other Giant Lanterns who shone were Archie Concepcion with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Rence Alcoriza with 11 points and 2 assists, MJ Garcia with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals, Kurt Reyson with 10 points, 6 rebounds plus 2 steals, Brandon Ramirez with 10 points plus 7 rebounds, and Ronan Santos with 10 points plus 5 rebounds.
A 2-handed slam by Lervin Flores, followed by a one-handed jam by Baltazar off a steal shoved Pampanga ahead, 86-62, with 5 minutes and 12 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Bacolod, which skidded to 1-24, got 31 points plus 4 rebounds from Louie Vigil, 13 points plus 7 rebounds from John Derico Lopez, and 11 points each from homegrowns Jose Frederick Antiporda and Alfred Sedillo.
The MPBL goes to the Orion Sports Complex on Thursday with games pitting Muntinlupa against Quezon Province at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against South Cotabato at 6 p.m., and host Bataan against Negros at 8 p.m.
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