Nueva Ecija takes MPBL lead; Basilan, Bataan triumph

Nueva Ecija crushed Manila Batang Quiapo, 113-83, on Thursday and cruised to the top spot of the Manny Pacquiao presents 1Xbet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Flaunting the depth and firepower of their roster, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards zoomed to a 31-13 spread and were never threatened en route to their third straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

All but one of 15 Rice Vanguards fielded by Coach Don Dulay managed to score, with Rob Celiz spearheading he assault with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Jammer Jamito contributed 15 points, four rebounds, one steal and one block, Jaycee Marcelino notched 13 points, nine assists and four rebounds, Ryan Paule Costelo 11 points, four assists and three rebounds, and John Byron Villarias 10 points, two rebounds and two assists for Nueva Ecija, the 2022 national champion.

With Celiz at the helm, the Rice Vanguards erected an 84-48 spread late in the third quarter, pulling down Manila to 1-2 despite Richard Albo’s 20-point, four-rebound output.

Homegrown Johnrey Chongpico added 11 points to Manila’s futile stand, followed by Algin Andaya, Yvan Ludovice and John Derico Lopez with 10 each.

Basilan Viva rallied to force overtime and nipped Valenzuela, 82-80, earlier. The Portmasters halted their slide and tied their victims at 1-2.

Behind 67-60, Basilan poured 10 points and held Valenzuela to just two in the last three minutes and 21 seconds to knot the count at 69.

The Portmasters could have won outright, but veteran Alex Cabagnot missed his second free throw after making the first with 1.9 seconds left, giving Valenzuela a reprieve.

The Bataan Risers woke up in the third quarter and bested the Cebu Classic, 79-69, in the opener.

Powered by Jeff Santos and Yves Sazon, Bataan poured 28 points in that period, matching its first-half output, to seize control, 56-50, and keep it till the end to tie its victim at 1-2.

Sazon wound up with 12 points and two assists and was chosen best player over Santos, who posted 12 points, two rebounds and a steal.