The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards displayed their firepower and clobbered the Paranaque Patriots, 138-72, on Friday in Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
All 14 players fielded in by Coach Don Dulay scored, as the Rice Vanguards posted their 26th win against two losses and assured themselves of the second spot in the North Division of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Abra Solid North leads the division and overall standing with a 25-1 slate, while San Juan trails Nueva Ecija at 25-3 in the round-robin elimination phase.
Even if Nueva Ecija yields to Rizal Xentromall and San Juan beats Marikina in their last regular season assignments, the Rice Vanguards would still emerge No. 2 as they bested the Knights, 97-82, in their encounter on May 17 in Palayan City.
John Byron Villarias presided over Nueva Ecija’s onslaught with 23 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, followed by Robby Celiz with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, and Jammer Jamito with 23 points and 4 rebounds.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Jaycee Marcelino with 14 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, and John Paul Calvo with 8 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.
Paranaque slumped to a South Division and league-worst 1-27 record despite Shaquille Alanes’ 28 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
Reigning back-to-back titlist Pampanga banked on one scoring spurt bridging the third and fourth quarters to beat Davao Occidental, 86-71, and virtually clinch the No. 4 slot in the North with a 19-8 slate.
The count was tight, 56-53, until the Pampanga Giant Lanterns scored the third quarter’s last six points on a 3-point play by Larry Muyang and a triple by CJ Delfino.
Pampanga then bunched eight points, five by Chris Lalata opening the last canto to pull away for good, 70-53.
Jhaymo Eguilos and Sonny Estil tallied 11 points each to lead a balanced Pampanga offense that saw 14 of 15 Giant Lanterns score.
Davao dropped to 10-16 as only Jeff Comia and Reymart Escobido struck back with 20 and 17 points, respectively. The Tigers remain in strong contention for the play-in as they’re ranked No. 9 in the South.
The Bataan Risers led throughout and subdued the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 89-76, in the nightcap to rise to 12-16.
Yves Sazon fired 14 points for the Risers, who drew 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists from Rhaffy Octobre, 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists from Hubert Cani, 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists from Chris Javier, and 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals from Lorenz Capulong.
Also-ran Bacolod tumbled to 4-23 despite Mark Ray Dubouzet’s 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, and Aldave Canoy’s 11 points plus 4 rebounds.
