Jaycee Marcelino of Nueva Ecija delivers.
Nueva Ecija grabs solo lead in MPBL
NUEVA Ecija, Abra and Cebu trounced their opponents in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1XBet-MPBL 2025 Season on Saturday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards flaunted their depth against the Valenzuela City Magic, 100-84, in the opener, while the Abra Solid North Weavers followed suit with a 73-53 drubbing of the General Santos Warriors.
The Cebu Classic subdued Manila Batang Quiapo, 79-51, in the nightcap to complete the lopsided results of the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
With its fifth straight win, Nueva Ecija moved ahead of Quezon Province and Rizal Xentromall with 4-0 records.
All 13 Rice Vanguards, led by Robby Celiz, fielded by Coach Don Dulay scored as the 2022 national champions pulled away at 82-60 and never wavered.
Celiz posted 17 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks, Jaycee Marcelino 12 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals, Jammer Jamito 12 points and 4 rebounds, Ryan
Paule Costelo 12 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds, and Byron Villarias 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Valenzuela slipped to 2-3 despite the 23-point, 7-assist, 4-rebound effort of Jan Fomento and the 16-point, 14-rebound, 4-assist output of Louie Vigil.
Abra, powered by Dave Ildefonso, Raven Gonzales and Jack Cruz-Dumont, surged ahead, 48-15, and only eased up in the fourth quarter when the outcome was beyond doubt.
Ildefonso wound up with 14 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, Gonzales 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Dumont 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for Abra, which climbed to 4-1.
The Weavers fielded Jason Brickman, a two-year US NCAA Division I assists leader with the LIU Sharks, and the 6-foot Fil-Am provided a glimpse of what he could do with 2 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in nearly 22 minutes of play.
The Gensan Warriors tumbled to 2-2 as only Joel Lee Yu struck back with 17 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.
Cebu ruled the boards, 51-26, and used it as a springboard to improve to 2-3.
Showing balanced firepower, the Classic drew 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists from Paolo Hubalde, 9 points each from Jan Jamon and homegrown Mark Meneses, and 8 points plus 7 rebounds from Limuel Tampos.
Manila skidded to 1-4 as only John Ashley Faa retaliated with 19 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena on Monday, March 31, with games pitting Imus against Sarangani at 4 p.m., Bataan against Batangas at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Basilan at 8 p.m.
