THE Pampanga G Lanterns try to finish off defending champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife in Game 2 Thursday of their best-of-three finals showdown in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the RMC Gymnasium in Davao City.
The match is set at 6 p.m., with the wards of Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda raring to follow up on their thrilling 87-84 triumph in Game 1 last Monday.
Down but not out, the Tigers are equally determined to get back at the G Lanterns and forge a deciding Game 3 on Sunday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Pineda said Davao Occidental is far from done in the league presented by Dumper party-list, Winzir, and Skin Care Depot, co-presented by SCD Cosmetics, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris as commissioner.
“I told the boys to pray and reminded them that multitude of Kapampangan fans are also praying for them,” Pinesa said. “We cannot give up, we’re up against a champion team.”
Big man Justine Baltazar—who dropped 31 points and 21 rebounds in Game 1—as well as King Caralipio, Kurt Reyson, Louie Sangalang, and Archie Concepcion are expected to carry the fight anew for the G Lanterns.
The Tigers will rely on former PBA players John Wilson, Larry Rodriguez, Renzo Subido and Keith Agovida and Gab Dagangon and Marco Balagtas in their bid to force a Game 3.