Giant Lanterns draw first blood

DUBAI — The Pampanga Giant Lanterns asserted their might and breezed to an 88-71 victory over the Quezon Huskers in Game 1 of their MPBL Sixth Season National Finals at the Al Nasr Club’s Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall here Sunday.

Powered by Justine Baltazar, Archie Concepcion and Brandon Ramirez, North Division champion Pampanga allowed South Division titlist Quezon to score first before storming ahead and keeping the rein till the end in the game marking the first time a Philippine-based league held a championship game on foreign soil.

Baltazar, on track to retaining the MPBL MVP honors, posted 24 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and two steals while Concepcion tallied 17 points.

The stocky but springy Ramirez notched 11 points, 11 rebounds, one steal and one assist and was given the Daily Fantasy best player honors.

Other Giant Lanterns who shone for the team of head coach Gov. Dennis Pineda were Rence Alcoriza with nine points and three rebounds, Kurt Reyson with eight points, six assists, three rebounds and one assist, and MJ Garcia with five points, eight assists, three rebounds and one block.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series will be held today with the Giant Lanterns, backed up by hundreds of Kapampangans, again favored to prevail.