THE Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced Binan Tatak Gel, 81-64, on Tuesday to share the lead in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Flashing the form that made it the 2022 national champion, Nueva Ecija dominated Binan throughout 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 Binan to 13-9 in the chase for eight playoff spots in the North and South Divisions.
Ceiz wound up with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals to clinch player of the game honors over Marcelino, who posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals; and Wilson with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
Binan couldn’t match Nueva Ecija’s firepower as only Pamboy Raymundo struck back with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Jaymar Gimpayan was the next best performer with 8 points, 15 rebounds and 2 assists.
Zamboanga SiKat got back on track and derailed Pangasinan, 98-93, in overtime earlier.
Smarting from back-to-back losses, Zamboanga clawed back from a 10-point hole, 80-70, in the last 2 minutes and 26 seconds 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 5-win streak, Zamboanga climbed to 16-7, surpassing its victim’s 15-7 card.
Cauilan finished with 27 points, spiked by 6 triples, 11 rebounds and 3 assists; followed by Reggz Gabat with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, and Abdul Sawat with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists.
Carl Bryan Cruz contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Zamboanga Coach Bong Ramos.
Pangasinan drew 16 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists from Laurenz Victoria, 12 points plus 4 rebounds from JP Maguiliano, and 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals from Bulanadi, who misfired from long distance, sinking just 2 of 12 attempts.
The Cebu Greats rode on the clutch hits of Jun Manzo to subdue Pasig, 76-70, in the opener and keep its faint playoff hopes.
Manzo, a former star of the University of the Philippines Maroons, pumped in 16 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, to go with 2 assists and 2 steals to power Cebu to its third straight win and an 8-15 slate.
Cebu hopes to sweep its six remaining games to make the play-in of the South Division.
Lean Vincent Charles Martel supported Manzo with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, and so did Paul Desiderio, also a former UP Maroons stalwart, with 9 points and 4 rebounds; Jan Jamon with 9 points and 2 rebounds; and Mark Meneses with 6 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists.
Pasig skidded to 8-13 despite Jacob Galicia’s 19-point, 15-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal, 2-block output and Warlo James Batac’s 13-point, 12-rebound, 3-assist effort.
Other Pasiguenos who delivered were Paul Gadin with 11 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals; and Mark Montuano with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
The MPBL returns to the Ynares Center Montalban on Thursday, with games pitting Manila against Bataan at 4 p.m., Basilan Starhorse against Davao Occidental at 6 p.m., and host Rizal Xentromall against Pasay at 8 p.m.
