THE Pampanga Giant Lanterns completed a perfect run to a back-to-back championship with a 65-61 victory over the Quezon Huskers in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season National Finals late Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Justine Baltazar, showing why he deserves a second straight MVP award, powered the Giant Lanterns to their third straight victory in the shortened best-of-five title series of the 29-team tournament.

.Exploiting his 6-foot-8 frame, Baltazar posted 19 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block as Pampanga became the first MPBL team to reign for two straight years.

Archie Concepcion and Encho Serrano supported Baltazar with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

Concepcion, who scored the insurance charity with 10.9 seconds left added 5 rebounds while Serrano atoned for his Game One ejection and Game Two suspension with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.

Unlike the first two games in Dubai which they dominated, 88-71, and 79-60, respectively, the Giant Lanterns experienced six deadlocks and trailed the Huskers for 5 minutes and 17 seconds this time.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda also marked a milestone, becoming the MPBL’s first back-to-back champion coach.

Quezon got 21 points from Judel Fuentes and 18 points from LJay Gonzales, but their efforts fell short as Al Francis Tamsi could only contribute 8 points.

Jhaymo Eguilos helped Baltazar underneath with 15 rebounds, enabling the Giant Lanterns to rule the boards again, 53-46.

With Concepcion pumping in two triples and a drive and Eguilos adding a follow-up against a jumper by Quezon’s Mon Abundo, Pampanga posted the game’s biggest lead at 30-21.

The Huskers, however, clustered four points for a 30-25 halftime count.

Right after the final buzzer, confetti rained on the floor and an emotional Pineda and team owner AG Gonzales hugged each other before the governor thanked the thousands of Kapampangans who packed the venue, where the Giant Lanterns have gone unbeaten this year.

Sources said the Giant Lanterns will be rewarded with an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas.

The MPBL’s second Dubai invasion marked the first time in Philippine basketball that championship games were held on foreign soil.

MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao handed out the championship trophy to the Giant Lanterns.

Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes gave the individual awards earlier

The scores:

Pampanga 65–Baltazar 19, Concepcion 19, Serrano 15, Eguilos 5, Binuya 4, Viernes 2, Ramirez 1, W. Baltazar 0, Garcia 0, Reyson 0, Alcoriza 0, Gozum 0, Santos 0, De Leon 0, Flores 0.
Quezon 61–Fuentes 21, Gonzales 19, Tamsi 8, Minerva 4, Abundo 4, Opiso 3, Sandagon 2, Bunag 1, Placino 0, Matillano 0, Alcala 0, Marasigan 0, Gravera 0, Lagrama 0, Ibanez 0.
Quarterscores: 12-8, 30-27, 46-47, 65-61.

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