PAMPANGA Giant Lanterns flexxed their muscles and routed the Mindoro Tamaraws, 96-72, on Monday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.

Still groping for the form that made them the defending national champions, the Giant Lanterns broke free in the third quarter, 63-52, then kept on pounding in the fourth to tally their second straight victory after dropping their first game this year.

Encho Serrano, Pampanga’s go-to-guy with the continued absence of reigning MVP Justine Baltazar, pumped in 16 of his game-high 22 points in the last 10 minutes to fuel the Giant Lanterns’ offense with help from Miguel Ives Corteza, Jhaymo Eguilos, Jeff Viernes and Archie Concepcion.

Corteza fired 16 points, Eguilos posted 12 points and 12 rebounds, Viernes added 10 points, while Concepcion chipped in 9 for Pampanga, which led throughout.

Mindoro got 21 points, including four triples, from Andres Desiderio and 14 points from Ralph Olivares, but no other Tamaraw could submit twin digits.

It was Mindoro’s third straight loss after an initial win in the 29-team tournament.

The MPBL goes to the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila on Tuesday with a triple-bill pitting Pangasinan against Quezon at 4 p.m., Bacolod against Davao at 6 p.m., and Caloocan against Manila at 8 p.m.

The scores:

Pampanga (96) — Serrano 22, Corteza 16, Eguilos 12, Viernes 10, Conception 9, Reyson 6, R.Santos 5, K.Santos 4, Gob 4, P.Garcia 3, M.Garcia 3, Ramirez 2, Alcoriza 0, De Leon 0, Binuya 0,
Mindoro (72)– Desiderio 21, Olivares 14, Reyes 8, Teodoro 6, Caspe 5, Lopez 5, Rios 5, Ariar 4, Huerto 2, Bono 2, Melton 0, Aquino 0, Vaygan 0, Estrella 0, Pena 0.
Quarterscores: – 22-14, 46-35, 63-52, 96-72.

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