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MPBL: Giant Lanterns and Huskers ready to make history in Dubai
The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) will make history as they feature the first ever Finals match-up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns that swept the North Division playoff round will face the South Division champions Quezon Huskers that only lost one game in their own playoff bracket.
Game 1 of the best-of-five Finals series will begin on December 1 at the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdam Indoor in Dubai at 7:00 PM Gulf Standard Time (11:00 PM Philippine Time), while Game 2 will be on December 3, same tip-off time at the same venue.
During the playoffs, Pampanga averaged 79.3 points, 55.5 rebounds, 21.8 assists, 7.5 steals, and 4.3 blocks in six games, while Quezon averaged 75.1 markers, 44.1 boards, 20.0 dimes, 7.6 deflections, and 2.9 rejections in seven games.
The two teams' numbers were almost identical except that the Giant Lanterns dominated the rebounding department but also turned the ball over a lot times that the Huskers could take advantage of.
Pampanga’s prized center Justine Baltazar will once again be the focal point of the Giant Lanterns offense but he will not be alone to carry the load for their squad.
Photo Courtesy:MPBL
"Hindi kailangan na isa lang ang gumagawa (sa team), lahat nagcocontribute kaya maganda ang pinakita namin (nung Game 2), so thank you Lord," said Baltazar after winning the North Division title.
"Kaya bago ako mag-exit (sa MPBL), gusto ko makapag back-to-back dahil wala pang nakakagawa ng back-to-back championships," added by the big man.
Meanwhile, Husker's LJay Gonzales said that he can't explain what happiness he's feeling but there's still work to do in Dubai.
"Di ko ma-explain yung nararamdaman ko, sobrang happy na nakuha namin tong panalo and may isa pang game para Manalo at pupunta tayo sa Dubai kaya magkita kita tayo doon. Tatrabahunin namin ito hanggang makuha namin ang gusto namin," said Gonzales.
Beside the championship match-up, there will also be an exhibition game featuring MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s team will face off against the Kris Fade Team, a local all-star lineup from Dubai.
The special match will showcase the strong connection between the Filipino community and Dubai’s diverse sports scene.
Game 3 of the series will be on December 7, 7:00 PM at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex and Convention Center in Pampanga.
If necessary, Game 4 will be held on December 10 at the Quezon Convention Center, while Game 5 will be on December 13, once again in Pampanga.
