DEFENDING champion Pampanga thumped Pangasinan, 74-50, on Thursday and stretched its streak in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at home inside Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando.
Riding Justine Baltazar, the Giant Lanterns marched on to their 15th straight win after an initial loss in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament, trailing only the 14-0 Quezon Huskers.
READ: Consensus No. 1 pick Justine Baltazar applies for PBA draft again
The 6-foot-8 Baltazar, the reigning league MVP who had applied for the PBA Season 49 Draft, posted 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks as Pampanga led by as far as 66-40 over Pangasinan, which skidded to 6-9.
Other Giant Lanterns who shone were Archie Concepcion with 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists and Lervin Flores with 12 points and 14 rebounds that led to their board dominance, 54-36.
Baltazar clustered seven points to push the Giant Lanterns further ahead, 51-37, after the third quarter, then opened the final frame with a dunk that sparked a nine-point run that decided the outcome, 60-37, with still almost eight minutes to go.
The Heatwaves were simply no match, as Hesed Gabo emerged top-scorer with nine points, followed by Ralph Robin and Michael Mabulac with just six points each.
Pasay, Valenzuela improve in standings
In other games, Pasay subdued Bacolod, 77-67, and Valenzuela nipped Muntinlupa, 73-71.
Powered by Dhon Reverente, the Voyagers clustered 14 points to pull away, 52-38, en route to a 9-7 slate.
Reverente finished with 20 points, including 13 in the third quarter, 11 rebounds, and three assists, while Warren Bonifacio posted his own 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, plus two steals and Laurenz Victoria contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Pasay led by as far as 77-60 midway through the fourth quarter and pulled the City of Smiles - which got 23 points and six rebounds from homegrown Alfred Sedillo and 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, plus two steals from Louie Vigil - down to 1-16.
The Classic, meantime, clawed their way up from a 25-46 hole to seize control, 68-60, before quashing the Cagers' final assault en route to a 9-8 card.
Michael Macion paced Valenzuela with 15 points and four rebounds, followed by veteran Paolo Hubalde with 13 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Muntinlupa tumbled to 5-11 despite the 24-point, 9-assist, 5-rebound, 4-steal effort of Makoy Marcos and the 13 points of Gab Capacio.
The MPBL goes to the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Friday with a triple-bill pitting Iloilo against Marikina at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Bataan at 6 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against San Juan at 8 p.m.
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