Defending champion Pampanga booked a semifinal clash with an equally talented Batangas side after subduing their respective opponents in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Preseason Invitational Saturday night at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns routed guest squad Gensan Bulalakaw, 109-75, for their third straight win and a sweep of Group B.
Reigning MPBL Most Valuable Player Justine Baltazar once again led the way for Pampanga with a near triple-double of 15 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
The versatile forward got plenty of backup with Rence Alcoriza scoring 16 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Kevin Santos had 12 points and nine boards while Kurt Reyson posted 10 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
The Batangas City Tanduay Athletics, on the other hand, bested the Bataan Risers, 86-75, to climb to a 2-1 win-loss record in Group A.
Batangas, which crashed out of the semifinal round in last year’s edition of the tournament, was powered by Levi Hernandez with 22 points and five rebounds, Jeckster Apinan added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Juneric Baloria made 14 points and RJ Ramirez got 11 markers.
Bataan, which ended up with a 1-2 card, got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Michelle Maynes.
Clashing in the other crossover semis pairing are South Cotabato and Quezon City TODA Aksyon on Sunday.
Quezon City dumped Valenzuela Classic, 99-77, in the first game on Saturday to claim the second semifinal slot in Group B over its victim and the Bulalakaw team of MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao.
Quezon City, Valenzuela and Bulalakaw finished with identical 1-2 slates, but Quezon City qualified with a better quotient owing to its 22-point win over Valenzuela.
Rhinwill Yambing presided over Quezon City’s victory with 24 points, four steals and three rebounds. Rael Are supported the 6-foot-3 high-flyer from San Sebastian College with 22 points, spiced by five triples, five rebounds and three steals.
Bulalakaw got 27 points, eight rebounds and two blocks from Victor Nguidjol and 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals from Pacquiao.
South Cotabato, which won all its three elimination round assignments in Group A, and Quezon City will meet at 6 p.m., followed by the Pampanga-Batangas tussle at 8 p.m.
