Another MVP-type game for Justin Baltazar in front of his hometown crowd resulted to another victory for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
The 6-foot-8 center came away with another monster double-double performance of 21 points and 20 rebounds to power the Giant Lanterns to a tough 70-65 triumph over a game Pasay Voyagers in the MPBL Sixth Season at the Bren Guiao Convention Center.
He played a near no-relief performance for the Giant Lanterns, who squeezed everything they could get from the former Gilas Pilipinas big man.
With Baltazar taking charge, Pampanga picked up its seventh win in eight games and solidified its hold of third spot in the Northern Division of this tournament.
But Pampanga’s latest triumph was nearly overshadowed by Batangas City’s overtime, come-from-behind 76-73 victory over Quezon City.
A triple from Mark dela Virgen in the last four seconds of regulation sent the game to an extra five-minute stretch and the Rum Masters held steadier down the stretch to outlast the Toda Aksyon.
Dela Virgen led the way with 19 points while Levi Hernandez contributed 13 as they conspired to give Batangas City its seventh win in eight games.
Negros drew near double-double games from Jeremy Cruz and Jefferson Comia, who combined forces in the Muscovados’ 72-66 triumph over the Iloilo Royals.
