Defending champion Pampanga defeated Abra, 79-64, on Tuesday in Game 1 of their North Division quarterfinal playoff in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Sixth Season at the packed Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Shaking off a sluggish start after a 23-day break, the Justine Baltazar-led Giant Lanterns took control by halftime with a 40-26 lead and never looked back, positioning themselves just one win away from advancing to the semifinals of the two-division tournament, which began with 29 teams in the round-robin elimination phase.
Proving why he’s the reigning MVP, Baltazar recorded game-highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds, along with 7 assists and 2 blocks, earning Daily Fantasy Best Player honors over teammates Archie Concepcion and MJ Garcia.
Concepcion contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Garcia added 10 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, helping Pampanga extend its homecourt winning streak to 12 games.
With Brandon Ramirez chipping in 8 points and 10 rebounds, the Giant Lanterns dominated the boards, 54-44, and outscored the Weavers 58-34 in the paint.
Pampanga head coach Gov. Dennis Pineda acknowledged that the team struggled to find its rhythm due to the three-week layoff after securing the No. 2 spot behind the San Juan Knights in the North Division.
However, once they gained momentum, the Giant Lanterns surged ahead, leading by as much as 67-46 early in the fourth quarter.
Pineda emphasized the need for improvement, particularly in three-point shooting, where the team converted just 1 of 10 attempts, and free-throw accuracy, managing only 14 of 28 attempts.
He noted these areas would need attention if they hope to close out the best-of-three series on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
For Abra, the No. 7 qualifier in the North Division, Ino Comboy led the team with 20 points and 4 rebounds, while Ryan Batino added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Roi Sumang chipped in 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, and Jeepy Faundo contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds.
