THE Pampanga Giant Lanterns imposed their will on the visiting Bacoor City Strikers, pulling off a 71-58 win in Game One of the MPBL National Finals played before an overflow crowd at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
With Arwind Santos in street clothes following a bout with flu, Pampanga's young guns led by Kurt Reyson more than held their own against the veterans of Bacoor led by Mark Yee and teammates Jhaymo Eguilos and Jammer Jamito.
LOOK who's helping prepare Pampanga Giant Lanterns for MPBL Finals
As Bacoor relied on experience, Pampanga Governor and Giant Lanterns coach Dennis “Delta” Pineda made sure that their advantage in quickness and height mattered in the opener of the best-of-five finals.
Game Two is set on Tuesday, also in the San Fernando stadium that is one of the most intimidating home courts in the league.
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Bacoor only managed to taste the lead once at the start of the game, 2-0, before the Giant Lanterns went on an 8-to-nothing run with Justine Baltazar, MJ Garcia and John Lloyd Clemente conniving on offense.
From then on, it was an all-Pampanga game as the hosts stepped on the gas behind returning Letran sniper Rayson’s 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Aldrin Morante-mentored Bacoor side managed to close the gap at 33-40 in the final five mins of the third quarter despite James Kwekuteye’s offensive struggles that saw him go on an unusual 1-of-11 from the field.
The game also had a tense moment at the 28.2 mark of the third quarter when Lester Reyes got entangled with Baltazar, prompting home fans to throw coins, papers and water bottles to the court.
It was only until Pineda took the mic that the crowd was pacified.
“Hindi natin kailangang magulo ito (laro). Lamang tayo. Hindi natin kailangan ng gulo,” Pineda told the crowd.
Heart-to-heart talk
Still, the province's chief executive ended the game the proudest man, clenching his fist to the crowd after the ballgame.
“Sinabi ko sa mga players natin, basketball ang isa sa mga nagpapasaya sa mga kababayan natin. Wag natin silang pahiyain. Ang dami nilang lumusob dito sa Convention Center, papayag ba tayong mapahiya sa kanila,” Pineda told SPIN.ph.
The soft-spoken Pampanga chieftain also shared how he had a heart-to-heart talk with his players before the game, recalling the whole team back to their dugout 20 minutes before tip-off.
“Ilang araw kasi ako nawala sa practice. So, tinawag namin ulit sila sa kwarto para isa-isa kong makausap and make sure na everybody’s okay and on the same page. I am glad they all responded. This is a sweet victory for the Cabalens,” he said.
Pineda was also the architect of other Pampanga championships in different cage leagues such as the Pilipinas Super League 21-under, Chooks-to-Go Chairman’s Cup 2021 and 3 conferences in the National Basketball League-Philippines.
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