The Pampanga Giant Lanterns overcame a poor start to eliminate the San Juan Knights-Go For Gold, 82-76, in Game 2 of the MPBL Northern Division Finals on Tuesday night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.
Down by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Giant Lanterns slowly clawed their way back until they tied the score at 71-all on a layup by Encho Serrano before taking their first lead of the game at 73-71 on an inside hit by Allen Liwag.
After San Juan tied the score for the last time at 73-all on a Marwin Taywan basket, Serrano reclaimed the lead for Pampanga with a split free throw before it widened to 79-73 on a triple by John Lloyd Clemente and two free throws by Justine Baltazar.
The Knights made their last push at 76-79 after a long three-pointer by Taywan, but the Giant Lanterns secured the come-from-behind victory on free throw conversions by Serrano and Clemente.
Serrano finished the game with 16 points, including two triples, to go with seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal to be named Player of the Game for the MPBL Finals-bound Giant Lanterns.
“Sobrang sama ng start namin, nagsisisihan kami sa loob ng court, pero pinayuhan kami ni coach Delta (Pineda) na magtulungan kami, and ‘yun nga nakabawi kami,” Serrano said.
Michael John Garcia also ended up with 16 markers for the Giant Lanterns; Baltazar had near triple-double numbers of 14 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists, while Clemente and Liwag had 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
“What a comeback,” exclaimed Pineda. “Sabi ko lang sa mga bata nung halftime na never give up, and tiwala lang na kapag nakabawi kami, kaya na namin mag-all the way.”
“Credit to the players, talaga. Sa ngayon, hindi muna namin iisipin ang finals series, bibigyan ko muna sila ng mga two days of break before namin pagplanuhan ano ang next move namin,” he added.
Taywan finished with 18 points, including four three-pointers, to lead the Knights. Orlan Wamar Jr. added 16 markers, while Nikko Panganiban contributed 14 markers in the defeat.
The post Pampanga ousts San Juan, advances to MPBL finals first appeared on Fastbreak.
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