MPBL: Nueva Ecija, Zamboanga, Cebu tally wins

MANILA, Philippines — The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced Binan Tatak Gel, 81-64, on Tuesday to share the lead in the 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.

Celiz wound up with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to clinch 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.

Binan 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.

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 2:26 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.

Cauilan finished with 27 points, spiked by six triples, 11 rebounds and three assists; followed by Reggz Gabat with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists; and Abdul Sawat with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Carl Bryan Cruz contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists for Zamboanga coach Bong Ramos.

Pangasinan drew 16 points, three rebounds and two assists from Laurenz Victoria; 12 points plus four rebounds from JP Maguiliano; and 12 points, four rebounds and four 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 two assists and two 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, nine rebounds and two assists, and so did Paul Desiderio, also a former UP Maroons stalwart, with nine points and four rebounds; Jan Jamon with nine points and two rebounds; and Mark Meneses with six points, 12 rebounds and two assists.

Pasig skidded to 8-13 despite Jacob Galicia's 19-point, 15-rebound, two-assist, two-steal, two-block output; and Warlo James Batac's 13-point, 12-rebound, three-assist effort.

Other Pasiguenos who delivered were Paul Gadin with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals; and Mark Montuano with 10 points, five rebounds and three 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.