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| Pampanga gets to enjoy a trip to Las Vegas as a reward for winning the MPBL title. MPBL |
MANILA--As confetti dropped in bunches at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga, the said province's well-loved MPBL team knew it was just the tip of the iceberg.
After braving a gallant stand from the Quezon Huskers in Game 3 to complete a sweep of the MPBL national finals on Saturday night, the Giant Lanterns were more than jubilant knowing an even bigger bonus awaits them aside from the multi-million peso championship trophy handed to them by league founder Manny Pacquiao.
A person knowledgeable of the situation confirmed that Pampanga governor Delta Pineda, also the Giant Lanterns' head coach, promised the players a trip to Las Vegas as a reward if they complete another dominant MPBL season.
And they just did, holding the Huskers to only 14 points in the fourth quarter of the finals series' tightest game to seal a historic championship conquest.
Pampanga, which once again swept the postseason following a 26-2 regular season stint, became the first team since the league was founded in 2018 to win multiple MPBL titles, doing so in a back-to-back fashion which is another MPBL first.
The question now is whether Balti Baltazar will make the trip to Vegas or stay put as the PBA is now waiting for him.
Baltazar, who made history too as the first player to win back-to-back regular season and Finals MVPs, has surely played his last MPBL game as he is set to honor his upcoming stint with Converge.
With the MPBL national finals ending on Dec. 7, Baltazar, the number one pick of this year's PBA Draft, can become eligible to play in the PBA as early as Dec. 12, a Thursday, when the FiberXers face the NorthPort Batang Pier at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
After playing three games in five nights to open the PBA Commissioner's Cup, Converge is currently enjoying an 11-day break which also paved the way for assistant coach Charles Tiu to shift his focus on the NCAA finals, which also ended on Saturday--albeit with College of St. Benilde losing to Mapua--and for coaching consultant Rajko Toroman to also monitor the coaching progress at both CSB and Pampanga.
Will Baltazar be in Vegas too or will he finally play for the FiberXers? We can only find out soon enough.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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