PAMPANA cruised to its 14th straight win while San Juan sustained its climb in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) last Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Leaning on prized acquisition Encho Serrano and towering Justine Baltazar, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns posted a wire-to-wire 93-80 victory over the Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers to keep top spot in the single-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Serrano had 23 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, while the 6-foot-8 Baltazar showed his versatility with 11 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.
Archie Concepcion supported them with 13 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, followed by Jayson Castro Apolonio with 12 points and 9 rebounds and another newcomer, John Lloyd Clemente with 9 points.
Pampanga surged ahead, 42-25, and was never in trouble against Rizal, which fell to 6-10 despite the 27-point, including 7 triples, output of homegrown John Winfred Gob and the 12-point output of Jeric James Pido.
Showing balanced firepower, the San Juan Knights subdued the Imus SV Squad, 93-82, in the nightcap to post their fourth straight triumph and climb to 11-3.
