Pampanga will pin its hopes on go-to guy Justine Baltazar to draw first blood against visiting team Marikina in Game 1 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Fifth Season quarterfinals today at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City.

The Giant Lanterns are out to keep their unblemished home game record intact when they cross paths with the Shoemasters at 8 p.m. in the North Division best-of-three playoffs series opener.

Meanwhile, Caloocan and Pasig MCW Sports meet at 6 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.

Pampanga has yet to drop a match played in its homecourt following an 11-game homestand sweep in the round-robin elimination round. The Giant Lanterns finished the elims with a league-best 26-2 win-loss record with Baltazar at the helm.

Pampanga seeks to duplicate its 83-75 victory over Marikina last 19 May with the towering Baltazar putting up incredible numbers with 16 points, 26 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.