2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season

The 2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season was the fourth season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and their second season in San Fernando.

2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season
MPBL champions
Division champions
Arena(s)Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center
Results
Record26–2 (.929)
PlaceDivision: 1st (North)
Playoff finishMPBL champions
(won vs. Bacoor City, 3–0)
Pampanga Giant Lanterns seasons
← 2022
2024 →

With the arrivals of Justine Baltazar and Encho Serrano to the team,[1] the team began the season with a 17-game winning streak, which was broken by Batangas City on July 13.[2] The team suffered its only other loss against Makati on August 4,[3] thus finishing the season with a 26–2 record, tying both San Juan and Davao Occidental from the 2019–20 season for most wins in a single regular season, a record that would be matched by Pampanga the following season.

The team continued its dominant prowess all throughout the playoffs, not losing a single game on their way to their first national finals appearance against the Bacoor City Strikers. In game 3, Pampanga were falling behind heading into the fourth quarter before taking the lead with three minutes remaining. Pampanga won their first MPBL championship and their second professional title.[4]

The team played all of their home games this season at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.

Roster

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2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 2 Concepcion, Archie (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Arellano
G 3 Gania, CJ (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) DHVSU
F 4 Santos, Kevin Kyle (SGL) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Letran
F 6 Sangalang, Louie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Letran
F 7 Bahio, JB 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) San Beda
G 8 Tolentino, Neil (HG) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Arellano
G 9 Sampang, Karl (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Holy Angel
G 11 Garcia, Michael Jeffrey (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) SPCF
G 13 Reyson, Kurt (SGL) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Letran
F 14 Apolonio, Jayson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) DMMMSU
G 18 Serrano, Encho (EP, HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1999–09–18 De La Salle
F 19 Baltazar, Justine (HG) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1997–02–19 De La Salle
C 22 Santos, Ronan (HG) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Arellano
C 25 De Leon, Matt (HG) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Arellano
F 29 Santos, Arwind (EP, HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1981–06–10 Far Eastern
G 30 Binuya, Raymond (C, HG) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) San Sebastian
F 34 Maynes, Mitchelle 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F 43 Liwag, Allen (SGL) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) St. Benilde
G 77 Clemente, John Loyd (HG) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) National-U
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Hupmerdink Dimatulac

Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  •   Injured

Regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W L GB
1 Pampanga Giant Lanterns 28 26 2
2 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 28 23 5 3
3 Makati OKBet Kings 28 21 7 5
4 Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 28 20 8 6
5 Pasig City MCW Sports 28 19[a] 9 7
Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss.
Notes:
  1. ^ Pasig wins tiebreaker over San Juan based on head-to-head victory.

Schedule

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2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season schedule
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record Recap
1 April 13 Negros W 79–66 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 1–0
2 April 20 Imus W 93–72 Cuneta Astrodome 2–0
3 April 27 Valenzuela W 79–55 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 3–0
4 May 2 Laguna W 109–85 Imus City Sports Complex 4–0
5 May 8 General Santos W 83–81 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 5–0
6 May 11 Bicol W 132–87 San Andres Sports Complex 6–0
7 May 15 Caloocan W 76–68 Strike Gymnasium 7–0
8 May 19 Marikina W 83–75 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 8–0
9 May 24 Quezon City W 115–79 Cuneta Astrodome 9–0
10 May 30 Bataan W 74–72 Bataan People's Center 10–0
11 June 5 Manila W 91–63 Muntinlupa Sports Center 11–0
12 June 9 Sarangani W 99–92 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 12–0
13 June 15 Pasig City W 81–66 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 13–0
14 June 20 Rizal W 93–80 Filoil EcoOil Centre 14–0
15 June 26 Pasay W 108–89 Filoil EcoOil Centre 15–0
16 July 1 Nueva Ecija W 76–64 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 16–0
17 July 6 Bulacan W 121–88 Baliwag Star Arena 17–0
18 July 13 Batangas City L 92–95 Batangas State University 17–1
19 July 18 Iloilo W 93–66 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 18–1
20 July 22 Bacoor City W 78–70 Laguna Sports Complex 19–1
21 July 28 Quezon W 83–60 Cuenta Astrodome 20–1
22 August 4 Makati L 97–102 Muntinlupa Sports Center 20–2
23 August 10 Parañaque W 88–82 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 21–2
24 August 16 Mindoro W 91–70 Caloocan Sports Complex 22–2
25 August 24 Zamboanga W 77–71 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 23–2
26 September 14 Bacolod W 103–86 Bataan People's Center 24–2
27 September 26 Muntinlupa W 87–73 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 25–2
28 September 30 San Juan W 89–73 Quezon Convention Center 26–2
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

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Schedule

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2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns playoff schedule
Round Game Date Opponent Score Location Series Recap
Division Quarterfinals 1 October 6 Marikina W 82–70 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 1–0 Recap
2 October 13 Marikina W 81–61 Caloocan Sports Complex 2–0 Recap
Division Semifinals 1 October 27 Caloocan W 74–63 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 1–0 Recap
2 November 3 Caloocan W 93–77 Nueva Ecija Coliseum 2–0 Recap
Division Finals 1 November 11 San Juan W 82–76 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 1–0 Recap
2 November 14 San Juan W 71–58 Filoil EcoOil Centre 2–0 Recap
National Finals 1 November 25 Bacoor City W 71–58 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 1–0 Recap
2 November 28 Bacoor City W 68–65 Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center 2–0 Recap
3 December 2 Bacoor City W 82–77 Strike Gymnasium 3–0 Recap
Source: Schedule

References

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  1. ^ Li, Matthew (May 23, 2023). "Encho Serrano leaves PBA's Phoenix, set to sign with MPBL's Pampanga". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "MPBL: Batangas stops streaking Pampanga". Philstar.com. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "MPBL: Agovida rallies Makati back, deals Pampanga second loss in stunner". Tiebreaker Times. August 5, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pampanga sweeps Bacoor to win MPBL title on the road". Philippine Star. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.