Former champions, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, and the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards advance to the next round after winning closeout games against their foes in the North Division playoffs quarterfinals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MBPL).
Playoff Intensity at Its Best!
No. 2 Pampanga easily handled No.7 Abra in game 1, however, it was a different story in game 2. The Weavers gave the 2023 MPBL Champions a run for their money, and if it weren’t for Paul Desiderio missing the clutch jumper, this would have turned out very differently. Though the Weavers resisted, Pampanga still came out on top, 65-66, finally sweeping the best-of-three series.
Abra definitely didn’t go home without giving a good fight. Alfred Batino posted 16 points, 2 assists, and 9 rebounds while Desiderio tried to lift his team with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Justine Baltazar Reaches Another Career Milestone
Last week, after their win in game 1 against Abra, Justine Baltazar joined the 1,000-point club after putting up 24 huge points and 16 rebounds. This time around, another superb performance puts Balti in another elite group.
In game 2, Baltazar recorded another double-double, 14 points and 17 rebounds. Just a game after reaching 1,000 points, the 27-year-old superstar also reached 1,000 career rebounds. He joins Abra Weavers’ Mark Yee as the only two players to ever reach the 1k points and rebound milestone.
Other Pampanga players who stepped up are Archie Concepcion and homegrown young gun Michael John Garcia. Concepcion contributed with 16 points and 4 rebounds while Garcia, who was given the green light to shoot, had 12 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Wilson and McAloney Tandem Survives Pasay
2020 MPBL Most Valuable Player John Wilson showed that he’s still got it. Despite Pasay’s tough resistance, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards still completed the sweep after securing the win, 75-72. Pasay fought until the end but it wasn’t meant to be.
38-year-old Wilson recorded 14 points and 4 rebounds. Helping him is Wil McAloney, who posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Northern Rivalry: Pampanga vs Nueva Ecija
The two former champions, Pampanga (2023) and Nueva Ecija (2022) will face off in a much-awaited rivalry matchup on October 26, 2024, at the FilOil Ecooil Centre in San Juan City.
The Scores:
- Pampanga Giant Lanterns vs. Abra Weavers (66-65)
- Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards vs. Pasay Voyagers (75-72)
