Roster
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| 2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season | |
|---|---|
MPBL champions | |
Division champions | |
| Arena(s) | Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 26–2 (.929) |
| Place | Division: 1st (North) |
| Playoff finish | MPBL champions (won vs. Bacoor City, 3–0) |
| Pampanga Giant Lanterns seasons | |
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.
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.
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| 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 [lower-alpha 1] | 9 | 7 |
| 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 | ||||||
| 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 | |||||||
Leomar S. Najorda is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan of the Pilipinas Super League. He was drafted ninth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA draft.
Carlo Dan Lastimosa is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Biñan Tatak Gel of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 20th overall by the Barako Bull in the 2013 PBA draft.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, also known as Pampanga Giant Lanterns – AMG3 Construction for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Pampanga. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and split their home games between Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando and AUF Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City.
The 2018–19 MPBL season, also known as the MPBL Datu Cup, was the second season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The regular season began on June 12, 2018 with the opening ceremonies Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, and ended on March 11, 2019. The league also held its first ever All-Star Game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on March 2, 2019. The playoffs then began on March 12, 2019 and ended on April 25, 2019 when the San Juan Knights defeated the Davao Occidental Tigers in five games in the 2019 MPBL finals.
The 2018–19 Davao Occidental Tigers season was the inaugural season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2018–19 Bacoor City Strikers season was the inaugural season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2022 MPBL season was the fourth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the first as a professional league. The regular season began on April 25, 2022 with opening ceremonies at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum in Batangas City, Batangas, and ended on October 13. The 2022 MPBL All-Star Game was also held at the Batangas City Coliseum on October 2. The playoffs then began on October 15 and ended on December 12 when the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards defeated the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines in four games in the 2022 MPBL finals.
The 2023 MPBL playoffs was the postseason tournament of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2023 season, the league's fifth overall, and the fourth under the 16-team format. The postseason tournament began on October 6, three days after the end of the regular season, and ended on December 2, 2023.
The 2023 MPBL finals was the championship series of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's (MPBL) 2023 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. In the best-of-five playoff, the North Division champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns faced the South Division champion Bacoor City Strikers, with both teams having not won an MPBL title nor appeared in the MPBL finals before, this series would determine which team becomes the league's fifth different champions. The series began on November 25, 2023 and ended on December 2, 2023.
Michael Vincent Galang Juico is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pangasinan Heatwaves of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 30th overall in the 2017 PBA draft by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Although he had a short PBA career, he has since won titles in other leagues, both in the amateur and professional level.
The 2024 MPBL season is the sixth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and its third under professional status. The regular season began on April 6, 2024 with the opening ceremonies at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan, and will end on October 1. The 2024 MPBL All-Star Game was held at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City on September 7. The playoffs are expected to begin sometime in October.
The 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational was the preseason pocket tournament for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's 2024 season and the third edition of the MPBL Preseason Invitational. The tournament began on February 21, 2024 and ended with the final game on February 27, 2024. The Pampanga Giant Lanterns were the tournament champions after defeating the South Cotabato Warriors with a score of 93–75.
The 2019–20 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2022 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2022 Batangas City Embassy Chill season was the fourth season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2024 Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters season will be the sixth season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 2023 Bacoor City Strikers season was the fourth and currently the last active season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
