DEFENDING champion and home team Pampanga closed its campaign in the eliminations with a well-earned 75-69 win against Quezon Province on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Angeles University Foundation Arena in Angeles City.
Powered by Archie Concepcion, Justine Baltazar, and Encho Serrano, the Giant Lanterns wound up with 26 wins and two losses, assured of the second spot behind San Juan (25-1) in the North Division and overall standings of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Even if San Juan drops one of its last two games, the Knights would still emerge as No. 1 heading to the playoffs because of their 86-82 victory over Pampanga in their head-to-head meeting.
Although the Giant Lanterns led throughout, they could not pull away from the Huskers, who lead the South Division with a 20-6 slate.
Nonetheless, Concepcion posted 30 points, five steals, and three rebounds; Baltazar had 11 points and 17 rebounds; and Serrano got 14 points for Pampanga being coached by Gov. Dennis Pineda.
Quezon tied the count at 59 at the start of the fourth quarter following a slam by Ximone Sandagon, but that's the most the Huskers could do as Concepcion poured in nine points and Serrano seven the rest of the way to ward them off.
Batangas bolsters bid for next round
Batangas City Tanduay went full throttle in the fourth quarter and trounced Muntinlupa, 73-63.
The Rum Masters trailed at the break, 26-34, and were barely ahead (48-46) after the third quarter, until Dawn Ochea, Philip Paniamogan, and MJ Dela Virgen joined forces in the final canto to power them to a 19-7 card.
Paniamogan wound up with 21 points, spiked by four triples, and six assists, while Ochea finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
The Cagers, who fell to 7-20, drew 16 points from Joshua Ramirez, 12 from Makoy Marcos, and 11 from Warlo James Batac.
Then in a battle between also-ran teams, Pangasinan dumped Imus, 112-83.
Joshua Fontanilla paced the Heatwaves with 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and four steals, followed by Nat Cosejo with 13 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, Ian Melencio with 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals, and JP Maguilano with 10 points and eight rebounds.
On the other hand, the Agimat tumbled to 1-25 despite Jameson Hiro's 26-point, 10-rebound, 9-assist effort and Nemesis Dela Cruz's 25-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist output.
The MPBL returns to the San Andres Sports Complex with games pitting Valenzuela against Bicol at 4 p.m., Abra against Nueva Ecija at 6 p.m., and Bacolod against Manila at 8 p.m.
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