The defending champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns closed their elimination round campaign with a 75-69 victory over the Quezon Huskers on Saturday, Sept. 14, in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season on a bright note at the Angeles University Foundation Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Powered by Archie Concepcion, Justine Baltazar and Encho Serrano, Pampanga wound up with 26 wins and 2 losses, assured of the second spot behind San Juan (25-1) in the North Division and overall standings of the two-division, 29-team tournament.

Even if San Juan drops its last two games, the Knights would still emerge as No. 1 heading to the playoffs because of their 86-82 victory over the Giant Lanterns in their elimination round encounter.

Although the Giant Lanterns led throughout, they could not pull away from the Huskers, who lead the South Division with a 20-6 slate. Pampanga's biggest spread was 20-9.

Concepcion posted 30 points, 5 steals and 3 rebounds; Baltazar 11 points and 17 rebounds; and Serrano 14 points for the Giant Lanterns being coached by Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda.

Quezon tied the count at 59 at the start of the fourth quarter following a slam by Ximone Sandagon, but that's the most the Huskers could do as Concepcion poured in 9 points and Serrano 7 to ward them off.

As things stand, San Juan will tangle with the eighth and last playoff qualifier, while Pampanga will tackle the seventh-ranked team in the 3-game playoffs where they will have the homecourt advantage.

Batangas City Tanduay Rum went full throttle in the fourth quarter and trounced Muntinlupa, 73-63, earlier.

The Rum Masters trailed at the break, 26-34, and were barely ahead (48-46) after the third quarter, until Dawn Ochea, Philip Paniamogan and MJ Dela Virgen joined forces in the final canto to power the Rum Masters to a 19-7 card.

Paniamogan wound up with 21 points, spiked by four triples, and 6 assists while Ochea finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Muntinlupa, which fell to 7-20, drew 16 points from Joshua Ramirez, 12 from Joshua Miguel Marcos and 11 from Warlo James Batac.

The Pangasinan Heatwaves dumped the Imus Agimat, 112-83, in a battle between also-ran teams in the opener.

Joshua Fontanilla paced Pangasinan with 21 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, followed by Nathaniel Cosejo with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, Ian Melencio with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, and JP Maguilano with 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Imus tumbled to 1-25 despite Jameson Hiro's 26-point, 10-rebound, 9-assist effort and Nemesis Dela Cruz's 25-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist output.

The MPBL returns to the San Andres Sports Complex with games pitting Valenzuela against Bicol at 4 p.m., Abra against Nueva Ecija at 6 p.m., and Bacolod against Manila at 8 p.m.