THE Pampanga Giant Lanterns weathered the Bacoor Strikers' comebacks to prevail, 68-65, on Tuesday and move within a win of the MPBL Fifth Season national title at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
With the count tied at 61, Pampanga bunched seven points, courtesy of Archie Concepcion with three and a basket each by MJ Garcia and Encho Serrano, to swing the balance and give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five playoff.
READ Justine Baltazar is runaway winner of MPBL MVP award
Pampanga will try to sweep the Strikes on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor.
Pampanga dominated Game One, 71-58, but met a more determined Strikers this time. they had a chance to force extension, but James Kwekuteye missed his 3-point jumper and Mark Yee was unable to beat the buzzer for one last attempt.
Concepcion, earlier chosen for the second Mythical Team, led Pampanga with 13 points and 8 rebounds to earn best player honors over newly installed MVP Justine Baltazar, who posted 13 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
Encho Serrano contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while John Lloyd Clemente and Jayson Apolonio added 7 points each for Pampanga coach Gov. Dennis Pineda.
Atoning for his dismal 2-point output in the opener, Kwekuteye poured 16 points, 12 coming in the first half as the Strikers stayed close, 29-33. By then, Baltazar had 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Bacoor got 12 points from Chito Jaime and 11 from Yvan Ludovice.
The game was tight from the start with neither team leading by more than 7 points till the end. A long triple by Game 1 top scorer Kurt Reyson put Pampanga back on top, 50-49, after three quarters.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
