Excitement is brewing as the Pampanga Giant Lanterns and the South Cotabato Warriors gear up to battle for the championship title in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Preseason Invitational. The highly anticipated showdown is set to take place on Tuesday at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City, adding to the festivities of Gensan’s Kalinangan Festival.
In a thrilling crossover semifinal round, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns showcased their dominance by defeating the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics with a commanding 78-59 victory. Leveraging their height advantage, the Giant Lanterns dominated the boards and capitalized on opportunities inside the paint to secure their fourth consecutive win in the tournament. Reigning MVP Justine Baltazar led the charge with an impressive performance, contributing 17 points, 17 rebounds, and two assists. He received strong support from teammates MJ Garcia and Kevin Santos, who chipped in 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the South Cotabato Warriors faced a tough challenge against Quezon City TODA Aksyon but emerged victorious with an 84-79 win. John Wilson’s stellar performance, particularly his 12-point surge in the fourth quarter, propelled the Warriors to victory. Wilson finished with 23 points, leading the charge alongside Christian Fajarito, Jammer Jamito, and Kyle Tolentino, who contributed crucial points and rebounds throughout the game.
