RIZAL Xentro Mall squeaked past Imus SV Squad, 71-65, to share the spotlight with earlier winners Nueva Ecija and Makati in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The defending champion Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards subdued the Bulacan Kuyas, 76-67, for their fifth straight win in as many games that pushed them back to the top of the 29-team league with the idle Muntinlupa Cagers.

The Makati OKBet Kings, on the other hand, banked on the 16-point, 16-rebound effort of league-returnee Billy Ray Robles to trip Pasig City MCW Sports, 75-70, and raise their record to 2-1.

Reeling from four straight losses, Rizal banked on Troy Mallillin, Jonas Tibayan and Michael Joseph Gamboa to trip Imus, which led for the last time at 62-61.

Mallillin, a former NCAA Junior MVP, fired a game-high 22 points and snagged 14 rebounds to earn best player honors.

It was Tibayan and Gamboa, however, who handed Imus’ second loss in four games, when they scored Rizal’s last 10 points against a triple by veteran Mac Cardona.

Tibayan poured 9 of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, while Gamboa scored all of his 7 points, including the last five, in the same period.

Cardona wound up with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists, but missed his last two triple attempts in the homestretch.

Imus also got 14 points and 5 assists from John Sherick Estrada and 11 points plus 3 rebounds from Joseph Penaredondo.

Apart from Robles, Dave Arana, Gab Dangangon and Robby Celiz provided firepower for Makati with 15, 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Pasig slid to 3-2 despite the 23-point effort of Ryan Paule Costelo, the 15-point contribution of Robbie Manalang and the 13-point output of Kenny Roger Rocacurva.

Hardly missing the services of starters Michael Mabulac and Pamboy Raymundo, the Rice Vanguards leaned on Michael Juico, Jonathan Uyloan and Will McAloney to pull down the Kuyas to a 4-2 card.

Juico tallied 15 points and 7 rebounds, Uyloan 13 points and McAloney 12 points and 10 rebounds for Nueva Ecija Coach Jerson Cabiltes.

Bulacan got 12 points from Rence Luis Alcoriza, 11 points from Buenaventura Raflores and 11 points plus 14 rebounds from Joseh Gabayni.

The MPBL visits the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga on with another triple-bill pitting Bicol against Paranaque at 4 p.m., Quezon against Bacolod at 6 p.m. and Manila against Bataan at 8 p.m.