Pampanga posts victory No. 17; Nueva Ecija, Zamboanga prevail
Published Jul 7, 2023 07:30 am
Unbeaten Pampanga extended its dominant run with a 121-88 thrashing of Bulacan on Thursday, July 6, in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika PIlipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season elimination round at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
*Ronan Santos proves worth for Pampanga Giant Lanterns. (MPBL Images)*
It was victory No. 17 for the Giant Lanterns, who hinted of the outcome when they pulled away, 53-28, at halftime. Exploiting their height advantage, the Giant Lanterns poured 102 points inside the paint that catapulted them to a 111-70 spread in the game marked by slams by Pampanga's Ronan Santos and Bulacan's Justine Guevarra. The 6-foot-8 Santos wound up with 18 points and five rebounds to earn best player honors for the first time. He was supported by 6-5 John Bryle Bahio and 6-3 John Lloyd Clemente with 14 points each, and so did 6-3 Michelle Maynes, 6-6 Allen Bryant Liwag and 6-8 Justine Baltazar, the MVP race pacestter, with 12 points each. Playing for only 14 minutes, Baltazar still got another double-double with 10 rebounds plus four rebounds and two assists. Neil Tolentino was the seventh Giant Lantern in twin digits for Pampanga Governor and coach Dennis Pineda with 10. Bulacan, which skidded to 6-12, got 20 points, laced by 6 triples, from Rhonz Yuson, 17 points from Rence Alcoriza, 14 points plus 11 rebounds from Guevarra, and 14 points plus 10 rebounds from Jeric Fabian. Defending champion Nueva Ecija dumped Valenzuela, 107-78, in the opener, while Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines, the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational titlist, squeaked past Negros, 72-71, in the second game. Showing why he's the reigning MVP, Jaycee Marcelino converted two charities with 3.7 seconds left to lift Zamboanga to its 14th win against 3 losses while pulling down Negros to 6-12. The Muscovados could have won, but Jun Manzo flubbed his two charities with 11.1 seconds to go. Zamboanga drew 16 points, four rebounds and four assists from Judel Fuentes and 12 points plus four rebounds from Jhaps Bautista. Negros, which tumbled to 6-12, got 14 points plus five rebounds from Jose Piero Longa and 11 each from Bernie Bregondo and Manzo, whose 11-point, six-rebound, eight-assist, three-steal effort went to waste. With John Bryon Villarias and Michael Juico taking turns scoring, Nueva Ecija dropped six points closing the first quarter, then added seven points starting the second to move ahead, 32-21. It was smooth sailing for the Rice Vanguards from there, with Coach Jerson Cabiltes shuffling his 15 players and trying out combinations. Villarias wound up top scorer with 19, followed by Juico with 15. Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were new acquisitions Orin Catacutan with 13, Harvey Pagsanjan with 10, all in the fourth quarter, and Sherwin Concepcion with eight. Will McAloney also posted 10 points and nine rebounds for the Rice Vanguards, who ruled the boards, 65-44, en route to 54 points inside the paint against only 26 for Valenzuela. Valenzuela, which skidded to 3-15, got 15 points each from AJ Benson and CJ Luengo and 11 from Danell Manliguez. The MPBL visits the One Arena in Cainta for the first time on Friday with a triple bill pitting Quezon City against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Bataan against Batangas at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Rizal at 8 p.m.
*Ronan Santos proves worth for Pampanga Giant Lanterns. (MPBL Images)*
It was victory No. 17 for the Giant Lanterns, who hinted of the outcome when they pulled away, 53-28, at halftime. Exploiting their height advantage, the Giant Lanterns poured 102 points inside the paint that catapulted them to a 111-70 spread in the game marked by slams by Pampanga's Ronan Santos and Bulacan's Justine Guevarra. The 6-foot-8 Santos wound up with 18 points and five rebounds to earn best player honors for the first time. He was supported by 6-5 John Bryle Bahio and 6-3 John Lloyd Clemente with 14 points each, and so did 6-3 Michelle Maynes, 6-6 Allen Bryant Liwag and 6-8 Justine Baltazar, the MVP race pacestter, with 12 points each. Playing for only 14 minutes, Baltazar still got another double-double with 10 rebounds plus four rebounds and two assists. Neil Tolentino was the seventh Giant Lantern in twin digits for Pampanga Governor and coach Dennis Pineda with 10. Bulacan, which skidded to 6-12, got 20 points, laced by 6 triples, from Rhonz Yuson, 17 points from Rence Alcoriza, 14 points plus 11 rebounds from Guevarra, and 14 points plus 10 rebounds from Jeric Fabian. Defending champion Nueva Ecija dumped Valenzuela, 107-78, in the opener, while Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines, the 2023 MPBL Preseason Invitational titlist, squeaked past Negros, 72-71, in the second game. Showing why he's the reigning MVP, Jaycee Marcelino converted two charities with 3.7 seconds left to lift Zamboanga to its 14th win against 3 losses while pulling down Negros to 6-12. The Muscovados could have won, but Jun Manzo flubbed his two charities with 11.1 seconds to go. Zamboanga drew 16 points, four rebounds and four assists from Judel Fuentes and 12 points plus four rebounds from Jhaps Bautista. Negros, which tumbled to 6-12, got 14 points plus five rebounds from Jose Piero Longa and 11 each from Bernie Bregondo and Manzo, whose 11-point, six-rebound, eight-assist, three-steal effort went to waste. With John Bryon Villarias and Michael Juico taking turns scoring, Nueva Ecija dropped six points closing the first quarter, then added seven points starting the second to move ahead, 32-21. It was smooth sailing for the Rice Vanguards from there, with Coach Jerson Cabiltes shuffling his 15 players and trying out combinations. Villarias wound up top scorer with 19, followed by Juico with 15. Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were new acquisitions Orin Catacutan with 13, Harvey Pagsanjan with 10, all in the fourth quarter, and Sherwin Concepcion with eight. Will McAloney also posted 10 points and nine rebounds for the Rice Vanguards, who ruled the boards, 65-44, en route to 54 points inside the paint against only 26 for Valenzuela. Valenzuela, which skidded to 3-15, got 15 points each from AJ Benson and CJ Luengo and 11 from Danell Manliguez. The MPBL visits the One Arena in Cainta for the first time on Friday with a triple bill pitting Quezon City against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Bataan against Batangas at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Rizal at 8 p.m.