CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA –
In the opening round of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) playoffs, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns lived up to their name as they outclassed the Marikina Shoemasters from the North Division, securing a resounding 82-70 victory.
Leading the charge for the Lanterns was Archie Concepcion, who showcased his prowess with an impressive performance, amassing 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Arwind Santos, a highly anticipated addition to the team, managed to captivate fans with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as the game drew to a close, contributing 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal in just 13 minutes and 16 seconds of playtime.
Pampanga Governor Dennis Delta Pineda, who also serves as the team’s coach, mentioned that Arwind Santos is still in the process of adapting to the team, explaining his limited playing time.
The Lanterns is currently in the process of integrating Santos into their lineup, and their future games will determine his role on the court.
With this win, the Lanterns take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series against the Shoemasters. Marikina will have an opportunity to level the series on October 13 (Friday) at the Caloocan Sports Complex in the second leg of the matchup against Pampanga.
The audience at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center (BZGCC) erupted in cheers as the Lanterns secured their convincing victory.
In another thrilling match last night, Pasig City clinched victory thanks to Gabby Espinas’ decisive game-winning shot.
Pasig narrowly defeated Caloocan with a final score of 71-69, with Espinas contributing 13 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and recording 4 assists during the game. -JO SALAZAR