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Around the NBA
29-Nov-2024 13:44
The Most Exciting MPBL Finals Game in the History of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball

The 2024 MPBL Finals Game is one of the most exciting events in Philippine basketball today. The series is set to deliver an electrifying showdown between the defending champions, Pampanga Giant Lanterns, and first-time finalists, Quezon Huskers. This year’s finals are historic, as they will feature the league’s first overseas games, hosted at the Al Nasr Club in Dubai on December 1 and December 3, 2024.

For the first time, a Philippine basketball league will play its championship series abroad when it hosts the first two games in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For the final three games, the league will move back home, giving homecourt advantage to the team with the best regular season record.

Also, for the second time in a row, both teams featured will be based in Luzon but not Metro Manila.. This will also happen to be the second overall time that a returning finalist or former champion will play and the second time that any of the finalists is not a first seed in the respective division.

Let's talk about the Teams:

Pampanga Giant Lanterns

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns came into the 2024 season as defending champions, having defeated the Bacoor City Strikers in last season's finals. With key players such as Justine Baltazar, Encho Serrano, and Archie Concepcion returning to lead their title defense, the team also secured the Preseason Invitational title in February.

Despite their defeat in the opening game of the season at the hands of the Rizal Golden Coolers, Pampanga regrouped and made it to a record-breaking 23-game winning streak during the regular season. It made them equal to the previous year's 26–2 record. The second seed was taken because of a crucial loss to the San Juan Knights during the regular season.

In the playoffs, the Giant Lanterns ruled the day, sweeping every opponent that came their way to make it to the National Finals. They bested the Abra Weavers in the division quarterfinals, outlasted their rivals from Central Luzon, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, in the division semifinals, and dethroned top seed San Juan in two games for their second straight division crown.

Having been crowned with back-to-back division championships, Pampanga made history by being the first team to do this since the 2020 San Juan Knights. Should they win the league title, the Giant Lanterns would also be the first to win two championships consecutively and forever seal their place in history as among the most fearsome teams of the league.

Quezon Huskers

The Quezon Huskers opened their 2024 season in hopes of rebounding from their quarterfinals exit in the division last season when they were defeated by the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines. They added players Ljay Gonzales and former league MVP Gab Banal to the roster and had an unbelievable 16-game winning streak. However, this team experienced a decline toward the latter part of their season when they went 5–7 in their last 12 games. With this downturn notwithstanding, however, the overall record at 21–7 did manage to put them first in the South Division.

In the playoffs, the Huskers breezed through the first rounds, sweeping the Negros Muscovados and the Parañaque Patriots in two games apiece to advance to the division finals. With Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters facing them, Quezon was down Game 1 and was on the verge of elimination in Game 2. But a last- minute spurt, topped by Jason Opiso's game-winning tip-in, forced a deciding Game 3. The Huskers took the momentum and swept Game 3, the first division championship in their franchise.

A team of Calabarzon-based athletes, Quezon now sets history as the first-ever expansion team in the professional era to reach the national finals since Batangas City in 2018 and Bacoor City in 2023. Should they win the series, only the second Calabarzon squad will claim the league championship, following Batangas City's 2018 victory.

The Series:

For this year's national finals, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns will hold homecourt advantage for the series, as they hold a better regular season record compared to the Quezon Huskers (26–2 vs. 21–7).

Game Schedules:

Game 1
December 1 (11:00 pm): Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall, Dubai

Game 2
December 3 (11:00 pm): Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall, Dubai

Game 3
December 7 (7:00 pm): Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, San Fernando, Pampanga

Game 4*
December 10 (7:00 pm): Quezon Convention Center, Lucena

Game 5*
December 13 (7:00 pm): Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, San Fernando, Pampanga

(*) if necessary

Where to watch the games?

The 2024 MPBL Finals Game can be streamed through the Ultimate sports streaming platform: ArenaPlus. 

ArenaPlus combines technology and entertainment, making basketball not just a sport to watch but a fully interactive event. These features make it a top choice for basketball fans looking for an all-encompassing experience.

The games will also be broadcast on television via Media Pilipinas TV (MPTV) and will also be streamed on Pilipinas Live and the league's social media channels.

Let us all watch how this series will unfold! Join us here in ArenaPlus and let's all be part of the most exciting MPBL Finals Game in the History of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball!
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