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Pampanga, San Juan set up North Finals duel

Sports | Basketball

Pampanga, San Juan set up North Finals duel

By Reynald I. Magallon

At A Glance

Pampanga and San Juan arranged a North Division Finals duel after emerging victorious against their respective foes in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Friday, Nov. 3, at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum.

Pampanga and San Juan arranged a North Division Finals duel after emerging victorious against their respective foes in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League on Friday, Nov. 3, at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum.

The Giant Lanterns shone bright and took down the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 93-77, while the Knights survived a tough home stand from the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguard, 88-80.

Defending champion Nueva Ecija showed grit and resilience, cutting a once 13-point deficit to just three, 67-70, behind a 10-0 spurt early in the final frame. Orlan Wamar Jr., and Adrian Nocum, however, bailed San Juan out with a triple that beat the shot clock and a tough long jumper to restore order.

Michael Calisaan led the way for the Knights with 30 points and 18 rebounds while Nocum added 17 points, five points and five rebounds.

Will McAloney paced the Vanguards with 21 points while Jonathan Uyloan had 15.

Encho Serrano and Justine Baltazar formed a deadly one-two punch as Pampanga pulled away in the final frame to dispatch Caloocan.

The dominant duo was just a cut above the rest, with Baltazar finishing with 16 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists while Serrano led the offsense with 22 points.

The Giant Lanterns also put the clamps down on the Batang Kankaloo, limiting them to just 13 points in the final frame while exploding for 27 to complete the sweep.

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