Pampanga-ADG Group of Companies halted 1Bataan-Camaya Coast’s late uprising, 71-64, to take Game One of its best-of-three quarterfinals series in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season, Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Pampanga went on a 17-0 start to start the game with Mark Cruz, Levi Hernandez, and Reil Cervantes leading the charge.
The Giant Lanterns sustained their blazing start in the second frame, leading by as much as 30 points, 48-18, off a lay-in from Jeric Fabian.
“We prepared ‘yung skills namin. We were able to prepare defensively. Maganda ‘yung depensa namin nung first half, pero medyo nagkaroon kami ng lapses sa schemes. Sabi ko nga, importante that we were still ahead and we just have to score,” said Pampanga head coach Bong Ramos.
1Bataan, though, did not go down without a fight.
Riding the hot hands of Reed Juntilla, Bataan went on a 25-8 run to slice Pampanga’s 25-point advantage to eight points, 58-64, with 6:26 remaining in the game.
“Nag-relax. Well, actually ‘yun ‘yung sinasabi ko na it can’t happen. Buti na lang may puhunan kami. I’m still happy [with] the way that we played,” lamented Ramos.
But that was the closest the Risers could get, as Hernandez and Cruz drained shots to quell the run.
Hernandez poured in 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field along with five rebounds to lead Pampanga, who is now on a nine-game winning streak dating back from November 22 last year.
Cervantes added 13 points built on three three-pointers, while Jeric Fabian had 10 markers, four boards, and two steals for the Giant Lanterns.
On the other hand, Ryan Batino paced Bataan with a double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Gino Jumao-as finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Juntilla poured eight of his 10 points in the Risers’ final run.
Pampanga will look to end the series on February 20, Thursday at 6:30 pm at its homecourt, the Angeles University Foundation Gymnasium.
The Scores:
Pampanga (71) — Hernandez 18, Cervantes 13, Fabian 10, Juico 8, Cruz 8, Maiquez 5, Thompson 5, Apreku 2, Alberto 0, Enriquez 0, Concepcion 0, Baltazar 0.
1Bataan (64) –– Batino 19, Jumao-as 12, Juntilla 10, Villarias 9, Llanto 4, Nalos 4, Castro 3, Gozum 2, Jaime 1, Inigo 0, Bregondo 0, David 0.
Quarterscores: 25-8, 48-23, 56-40, 71-64.
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photo by Joaqui Flores
