Pampanga pulls off back-to-back MPBL title romp over Quezon

MANILA, Philippines – They’re truly Pampanga’s best. 

Powered by MVP Justine Baltazar, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns completed a finals series sweep of the Quezon Huskers, 65-61, to become the first back-to-back champion of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) late Saturday, December 7, at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Baltazar, who also made history by becoming the league’s first back-to-back MVP, again posted a monster double-double of 19 points and 19 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 1 block.

Archie Concepcion scored 19 and Encho Serrano had 15 points to backstop the 6-foot-8 Baltazar as Pampanga wrapped up the best-of-five series at 3-0.

Concepcion, who scored the insurance charity with 10.9 seconds left, also grabbed 5 rebounds, while Serrano atoned for his earlier shortcomings with 6 boards, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

Unlike the first two games where they dominated, the Giant Lanterns experienced six deadlocks this time and trailed the Huskers for 5 minutes and 17 seconds.

With Jhaymo Eguilos helping Baltazar underneath with 15 rebounds, the Giant Lanterns ruled the boards again, 53-46.

Quezon got 21 points from Judel Fuentes and 18 points from LJay Gonzales, but their efforts fell short as Al Francis Tamsi only scored 8.

The Giant Lanterns handily won Game 1, 88-71, and Game 2, 79-60, in Dubai, marking the first time in Philippine basketball that championship games were held on foreign soil.

King Baltazar

The runaway MVP winner last year, Baltazar was again dominant throughout the 29-team tournament, posting averages of 15.56 points, 16.0 rebounds, 5.91 assists, and 1.19 steals while playing for 30.44 minutes each game. 

Towering yet mobile, Baltazar towed Pampanga to the North Division championship via a two-game sweep of San Juan, followed by victories in Game 1 and Game 2 of the National Finals in Dubai against South Division champion Quezon Province.

In the finale, Baltazar further raised his output with averages of 18.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks.

Named in the Mythical Team with Baltazar were Orlan Wamar of the San Juan Knights, JC Marcelino of Zamboanga Masters Sardines, Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, and Cedric Ablaza of the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters.

Selected for the Second Team were Greg Slaughter of the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc SGA Stars, JP Sarao of the Parañaque Patriots, Robby Celiz of Nueva Ecija, Archie Concepcion of Pampanga, and LJay Gonzales of the Quezon Huskers.

JR Olegario, a key player for the Patriots, was chosen the Best Homegrown, Dawn Ochea of Batangas was named the Best Defensive Player, Lawrence Victoria of Rizal Xentromall copped the Most Improved, and Nikko Panganiban of San Juan was honored with the Sportsmanship award.

Representative Oca Malapitan of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo won the Best Executive award, while Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda also marked a milestone by becoming the MPBL’s first back-to-back champion coach. – Rappler.com