The San Juan Knights and the Pampanga Giant Lanterns are set to battle the North Division Championship starting on November 11, 2023 at 07:00 PM inside the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex. This will be the first time ever that the Giant Lanterns will play in the North Division Finals while the San Juan Knights are returning to the North Finals for the fourth (4th) time.
The number one (1) seed Giant Lanterns are looking to complete an incredible feat in the regular season after posting a 26-2 record. Justine Baltazar and Encho Serrano will lead the Giant Lanterns as they target to bring home the national championship trophy.
With their dominance, the Giant Lanterns are still undefeated in the playoffs. They swept the 8th seed Marikina Shoemasters in the first (1st) round then they disposed the Marikina Shoemasters in the second (2nd) stage of the playoffs.
As for the San Juan Knights, their journey to the North Division Finals is quite surprising. They finished the elimination round at a losing streak which caused their fall to sixth (6th) place in the standings.
The San Juan Knights faced the third (3rd) seed Makati Okbet Kings composed of veteran players with championship experience such as Billy Robles, Eman Calo and Joseph Terso. Despite being the lower seed team, the Knights stun the Okbet Kings with a 2-0 sweep of their series.
In the second (2nd) round, the San Juan Knights avenged their loss against the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in last season's North Division Finals with a sweep in this season's North Semifinals. Can the San Juan Knights complete their cinderella all the way to a national championship trophy? No team has won two (2) titles yet and perhaps the Knights could be the first.
Check out below the Schedule and Venue of the North Division Finals
Game 1: November 11, 2023
Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex, Pampanga
Game 2: November 41, 2023
Filoil EcoOil Center, San Juan
Game 1: November 18, 2023 (If Necessary)
Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex, Pampanga