Pampanga Giant Lanterns | |
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2024 Pampanga Giant Lanterns season | |
League | MPBL (2018–present) PSL (2022–2023) |
Founded | 2018 |
History | Pampanga Lanterns 2018–2019 Pampanga Giant Lanterns 2019–present (MPBL) Pampanga G Lanterns 2022–2023 (PSL) |
Arena | Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center AUF Sports and Cultural Center |
Location | Pampanga |
Team colors | |
Main sponsor | AMG3 Construction |
Head coach | Dennis Pineda (de facto) Frederick Dimatulac (acting) |
Championships | MPBL: 2 (2023, 2024) PSL: 1 (2022–23) |
Conference titles | MPBL: 2 (2023, 2024) |
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns (shortened as PGL and also known as Pampanga Giant Lanterns – AMG3 Construction for sponsorship reasons) are a Filipino professional basketball team based in San Fernando, Pampanga. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. The team mainly plays its home games at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center. The Giant Lanterns are the first and only team in the MPBL to win two championships and to do so in back-to-back seasons (2023 and 2024).
The Lanterns began play in the 2018–19 season as an expansion team, and were initially based in Angeles City before moving to San Fernando in 2022. The team has also taken part in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL).
Despite barely missing the playoffs in their inaugural season, the team has since grown to prominence. Since then, the team finished top four in the North Division In late 2022, the team would have its biggest acquisition in Justine Baltazar, where he alongside head coach Dennis Pineda led PGL to three championships in a two-year span, two in the MPBL and one in the PSL. Alongside Balti, the team has also relied on its homegrown players, such as Archie Concepcion and Encho Serrano, becoming key players for the Pampanga franchise.
The Giant Lanterns are one of four teams based in Central Luzon, and is owned by the Provincial Government of Pampanga.