Pampanga shoots for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Sixth Season crown when they tangle with Quezon in Game 3 of the National Finals at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampanga on Saturday.
Game time is at 7 p.m. with the Giant Lanterns tipped to go for the kill after winning the first two games of this best-of-five finals affair.
.After sweeping the Huskers in Game 1, 88-81, and Game 2, 79-60, in Dubai, the Giant Lanterns appear poised to cut short the series by winning at home to formally become the league’s first back-to-back champions.
Justine Baltazar is certain to retain the Most Valuable Player plum, averaging 18.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks in the Finals, where the Giant Lanterns, the North Division champion, have proved better than the Huskers, the South Division titlist, in all aspects.
Pampanga paced Quezon in total rebounds (101-88), assists (51-44), steals (17-16) and blocks (7-3) and committed fewer turnovers (29-31), reasons why it led for nearly 40 minutes in Games 1 and 2.
Other key players for Pampanga head coach Gov. Dennis Pineda are Archie Concepcion, MJ Garcia, Encho Serrano, Kurt Reyson and Brandon Ramirez.
Following his 20-point explosion in Game 2, Reyson is averaging 14 points, 6.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.5 steals while filling in the role of Serrano, who got ejected in the first quarter of Game 1 and suspended for Game 2.
Concepcion is averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists and Ramirez 8.5 points plus nine rebounds.
Jhaymo Eguilos, Raymond Binuya and Rence Alcoriza have also stepped up for the Giant Lanterns, who are pouncing on the Huskers’ manpower shortage and shooting woes.
Already feeling the absence of skipper Gab Banal due to a hurting groin, the Huskers were further hampered by LJay Gonzales’ jaw injury in the first quarter, prompting him to be held scoreless in Game 1 and only two points in Game 2.