2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season

2024   Pampanga Giant Lanterns season
MPBL champions
Division champions
Head coach	Dennis Pineda (de facto) Frederick Dimatulac (acting)
Arena(s)	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center AUF Sports and Cultural Center
Results
Record	26–2 (.929)
Place	Division: 2nd (North)
Playoff finish	MPBL champions (won vs. Quezon, 3–0)
Pampanga Giant Lanterns seasons
←  2023 2025  →

The 2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season was the fifth season of the Pampanga-based franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and their third season in San Fernando.

The Giant Lanterns entered this season as defending champions having beaten the Bacoor City Strikers in the 2023 MPBL finals. The team kept its star players in Justine Baltazar, Encho Serrano, and Archie Concepcion. After winning the 2024 Preseason Invitational, the team shockingly lost the first game of its title defense to the Rizal Golden Coolers. ^[1] The team then went on a 23-game winning streak that lasted from April 15 to August 26, giving them the longest regular season winning streak in league history. ^[2] PGL finished the regular season tied for the best regular season record at 26–2, once again tying the record for most regular season wins. ^[3] The team entered as the North Division's second seed, only behind the San Juan Knights who gave the Giant Lanterns their only other loss on August 30. ^[4]

They continued their winning prowess in the playoffs, sweeping the expansion Abra Weavers and their region rival Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards before once again taking on San Juan in the division finals. ^{[5] [6] [7]} After sweeping San Juan in two games, they faced off against the Quezon Huskers in the 2024 MPBL finals. ^{[8] [9]} Their dominant form throughout the season carried on, as they swept the Huskers in three games to become the league's first back-to-back champions, doing so at home. ^[10]

The team played most of their home games this season at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, with one home game played at their previous home, AUF Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City. ^[3]

Roster

2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G/F 2 Concepcion, Archie  (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) Arellano G 3 Gomez de Liaño, Joe 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) F 6 Baltazar, Wilson  (HG) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) F/C 8 Eguilos, Jhaymo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1986–08–27 Far Eastern G 11 Garcia, MJ  (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) SPCF G 13 Reyson, Kurt 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Letran G/F 15 Alcoriza, Rence Luis 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Arellano G/F 18 Serrano, Encho  (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1999–09–18 De La Salle F/C 19 Baltazar, Justine  (HG) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1997–02–19 De La Salle F 21 Gozum, Martin  (HG) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 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 26 Flores, Lervin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1992–09–26 Arellano F 29 Ramirez, Brandon  (HG) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) G 30 Binuya, Raymond  (HG) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) San Sebastian G 74 Viernes, Jeff 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 143 lb (65 kg) 1989–05–18 St. Clare

Head coach Dennis Pineda (de facto) Frederic Dimatulac (acting) Assistant coach(es) Manuel Luis Marquez Billy Bansil Jordan Viray Camille Istle Santos Jay Sierra Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee (RS) Reserve player Injured Roster – via Genius Sports

Preseason

Pampanga was one of eight teams that took part in the 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational. In their first appearance in the preseason tournament, Pampanga won every game on their way to winning the Invitational title, where they beat the South Cotabato Warriors in the final game,

Schedule

2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns Preseason Invitational schedule Total: 5–0
Stage	Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Record	Recap
Group stage	1	February 22	Quezon City	W 73–68	Lagao Gymnasium	1–0	Recap
	2	February 23	Valenzuela	W 103–80	Lagao Gymnasium	2–0	Recap
	3	February 24	GenSan Bulalakaw	W 109–75	Lagao Gymnasium	3–0	Recap
Playoffs	SF	February 25	Batangas City	W 78–59	Lagao Gymnasium	4–0	Recap
	F	February 27	South Cotabato	W 93–75	Lagao Gymnasium	5–0	Recap
Source: Schedule

Regular season

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	GB
1	San Juan Knights	28	26 [a]	2	—
2	Pampanga Giant Lanterns	28	26 [a]	2	—
3	Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards	28	24	4	2
4	Manila SV Batang Sampaloc	28	20	8	6
5	Caloocan Batang Kankaloo	28	19	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. San Juan wins tiebreaker over Pampanga based on head-to-head record.

Schedule

2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns regular season schedule Total: 26–2 (Home: 12–0; Road: 11–2; Neutral: 3–0)
Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Record	Recap
1	April 9	Rizal	L 71–78	Villar Coliseum (N)	0–1	Recap
2	April 15	Marikina	W 85–86	Ynares Center (N)	1–1	Recap
3	April 22	Mindoro	W 96–72	Alonte Sports Arena (N)	2–1	Recap
4	April 26	Bicolandia	W 128–93	Alonte Sports Arena (N)	3–1	Recap
5	May 2	Quezon City	W 63–44	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center (H)	4–1	Recap
6	May 7	Muntinlupa	W 83–62	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	5–1	Recap
7	May 13	Bataan	W 86–75	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	6–1	Recap
8	May 20	Pasay	W 70–65	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	7–1	Recap
9	May 27	Parañaque	W 77–59	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	8–1	Recap
10	June 1	Sarangani	W 109–68	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	9–1	Recap
11	June 6	Negros	W 104–81	Alonte Sports Arena (N)	10–1	Recap
12	June 12	Davao Occidental	W 81–47	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	11–1	Recap
13	June 18	Valenzuela	W 85–56	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	12–1	Recap
14	June 22	Bulacan	W 124–81	Calasiao Sports Complex (N)	13–1	Recap
15	June 29	Nueva Ecija	W 91–85	Nueva Ecija Coliseum(A)	14–1	Recap
16	July 4	Pangasinan	W 74–50	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	15–1	Recap
17	July 9	Caloocan	W 76–60	Caloocan Sports Complex (A)	16–1	Recap
18	July 16	Biñan	W 91–74	Alonte Sports Arena (A)	17–1	Recap
19	July 22	Batangas City	W 88–62	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	18–1	Recap
20	July 29	Zamboanga	W 82–79	Filoil EcoOil Centre (N)	19–1	Recap
21	August 6	Imus	W 136–75	San Andres Sports Complex (N)	20–1	Recap
22	August 12	South Cotabato	W 83–75	Filoil EcoOil Centre (N)	21–1	Recap
23	August 16	Iloilo	W 88–49	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	22–1	Recap
24	August 26	Manila	W 92–63	Filoil EcoOil Centre (N)	23–1	Recap
25	August 30	San Juan	L 82–86	Cuneta Astrodome (N)	23–2	Recap
26	September 3	Bacolod	W 143–94	Olivarez College (N)	24–2	Recap
27	September 10	Abra	W 88–79	FPJ Arena (N)	25–2	Recap
28	September 14	Quezon	W 75–69	AUF Sports and Cultural Center (H)	26–2	Recap
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

Schedule

2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns playoff schedule Total: 9–0 (Home: 4–0; Road: 1–0; Neutral: 4–0)
Round	Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Series	Recap
Division quarterfinals	1	October 8	Abra	W 79–64	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center (H)	1–0	Recap
	2	October 16	Abra	W 66–65	Nueva Ecija Coliseum (N)	2–0	Recap
Division semifinals	1	October 26	Nueva Ecija	W 76–73	Filoil EcoOil Centre (N)	1–0	Recap
	2	October 30	Nueva Ecija	W 83–80	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	2–0	Recap
Division finals	1	November 8	San Juan	W 91–84	Filoil EcoOil Centre (A)	1–0	Recap
	2	November 11	San Juan	W 81–73	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	2–0	Recap
National finals	1	December 1	Quezon	W 88–71	Rashid bin Hamdan Indoor Hall (N)	1–0	Recap
	2	December 3	Quezon	W 79–60	Rashid bin Hamdan Indoor Hall (N)	2–0	Recap
	3	December 7	Quezon	W 65–61	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center(H)	3–0	Recap
Source: Schedule

References

1. "MPBL: Paranaque thwarts Manila; Rizal stuns Pampanga". Philstar.com. April 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
2. "NEW RECORD ALERT". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024– via Facebook.
3. "Pampanga ends MPBL elims with big win over Quezon Province". Spin.ph. September 15, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
4. "San Juan Knights put an end to Pampanga's 23-game win streak". Spin.ph. August 30, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
5. "Kurt Reyson's last-second heroics lift Pampanga over Abra, secures MPBL North semis spot". Tiebreaker Times. October 17, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
6. "Pampanga nips Nueva Ecija in OT, meets San Juan in MPBL North finals". Philstar.com. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
7. "Pampanga survives Nueva Ecija in OT, sets up MPBL North Finals clash vs San Juan". Tiebreaker Times. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
8. "Pampanga makes national finals". Philstar.com. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
9. "Pampanga sweeps San Juan, advances to MPBL Nationals with Dubai showdown awaiting". Tiebreaker Times. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
10. "Pampanga sweeps Quezon to claim back-to-back MPBL championships". spin.ph. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.