Pampanga extended its winning streak while Pasay remained in orbit in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season on Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay. Powered by Justine Baltazar’s triple-double and Archie Concepcion’s hot shooting,
Pampanga defeated Quezon City Gaz N Go, 115-79, to improve its record to 9-0 in the elimination round of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Baltazar recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, earning him the best player honors, while Concepcion, another homegrown icon, contributed 25 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Other key contributors for Pampanga, who led by as many as 41 points (106-65), were Kurt Reyson with 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and MJ Garcia with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Despite Reymond Penafiel’s 31-point performance, Quezon City fell to 3-9.
In another game, Pasay, with contributions from six players, outscored Paranaque by 21 points in the fourth quarter, securing a 98-79 victory and improving their record to 7-3.
Dhon Reverente led Pasay with 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while former Perpetual Help guard AJ Coronel recorded 14 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
Laurenz Victoria and Achie Inigo each scored 12 points, and Jaypee Belencion and Jeric Serrano contributed 11 points apiece.
Paranaque, now with a 6-6 record, received 17 points from Pari Llagas, 16 points from Jayboy Solis, and 10 points from Keith Pido.
In the opening game, Oriental Mindoro narrowly defeated Manila, 80-78, with Sherwin Concepcion and Agem Miranda both recording double-doubles.
Concepcion scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Miranda contributed 22 points and 10 assists for the Disiplinados.
Rodel Vaygan added 14 points, and CJ Tolentino scored 11 points.
Manila’s top scorers were Kyle Neypes with 16 points, Adrian Celada and Charles Lazarte with 15 points each, and Mark Acosta with 14 points.
The MPBL will return to the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on Thursday, featuring games between Valenzuela and Caloocan at 4 p.m., Iloilo and Marikina at 6 p.m., and Negros and Bataan at 8 p.m.
