2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season explained

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.

Regular season

Schedule

2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season schedule
Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Record	Recap <	-- March – May -->
1	April 13		W 79–66	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	1–0
2	April 20		W 93–72		2–0
3	April 27		W 79–55	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	3–0
4	May 2		W 109–85	Imus City Sports Complex	4–0
5	May 8		W 83–81	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	5–0
6	May 11		W 132–87		6–0
7	May 15		W 76–68	Strike Gymnasium	7–0
8	May 19		W 83–75	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	8–0
9	May 24		W 115–79	Cuneta Astrodome	9–0
10	May 30		W 74–72	Bataan People's Center	10–0
11	June 5		W 91–63	Muntinlupa Sports Center	11–0
12	June 9		W 99–92	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	12–0
13	June 15		W 81–66	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	13–0
14	June 20		W 93–80		14–0
15	June 26		W 108–89	Filoil EcoOil Centre	15–0
16	July 1		W 76–64	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	16–0
17	July 6		W 121–88	Baliwag Star Arena	17–0
18	July 13		L 92–95	Batangas State University	17–1
19	July 18		W 93–66	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	18–1
20	July 22		W 78–70	Laguna Sports Complex	19–1
21	July 28		W 83–60	Cuenta Astrodome	20–1
22	August 4		L 97–102	Muntinlupa Sports Center	20–2
23	August 10		W 88–82	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	21–2
24	August 16		W 91–70		22–2
25	August 24		W 77–71	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	23–2
26	September 14		W 103–86	Bataan People's Center	24–2
27	September 26		W 87–73	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	25–2
28	September 30		W 89–73		26–2
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

Schedule

2023 Pampanga Giant Lanterns playoff schedule
Round	Game	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Series	Recap <	-- Division Quarterfinals -->
Division Quarterfinals	1	October 6		W 82–70	Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center	1–0	Recap
	2	October 13	Marikina	W 81–61		2–0	Recap
Division Semifinals	1	October 27		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		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		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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Li . Matthew . 2023-05-23 . Encho Serrano leaves PBA's Phoenix, set to sign with MPBL's Pampanga . 2023-10-06 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
2. Web site: 2023-07-14 . MPBL: Batangas stops streaking Pampanga . 2024-07-26 . Philstar.com.
3. Web site: 2023-08-05 . MPBL: Agovida rallies Makati back, deals Pampanga second loss in stunner . 2024-07-26 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
4. News: December 2, 2023 . Pampanga sweeps Bacoor to win MPBL title on the road . December 2, 2023 . Philippine Star.