Rice Vanguards gain share of lead

Nueva Ecija Rice trounced Biñan, 81-64, to share the lead in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 2025 Season on Tuesday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.

Flashing the form that made it the 2022 national champion, Nueva Ecija dominated Biñan from start to finish en route to its 21st win against a loss, the same as San Juan and Abra Solid North, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.

Powered by Rob Celiz, Jaycee Marcelino and John Wilson, Nueva Ecija bunched 14 points to pull away at 59-33 and pulled down Biñan to 13-9 in the chase for eight playoff spots in the North and South Divisions.

Celiz wound up with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to clinch the Player of the Game honors over Marcelino, who posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals; and Wilson with 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Biñan couldn’t match Nueva Ecija’s firepower as only Pamboy Raymundo struck back with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jaymar Gimpayan was the next best performer with eight points, 15 rebounds and two assists.

Earlier, Zamboanga SiKat got back on track and derailed Pangasinan, 98-93, in overtime.

Smarting from back-to-back losses, Zamboanga clawed back from a 10-point hole, 80-70, in the last 2:26 to force the extension at 82-all behind a 12-2 run sparked by JP Cauilan’s back-to-back triples.

In snapping Pangasinan’s five-win streak, Zamboanga climbed to 16-7, surpassing its victim’s 15-7 card.