Rice Vanguards subdue Tamaraws
MANILA, Philippines — Nueva Ecija flashed its fiery form while Abra and Pangasinan gained traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season on Saturday at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards subdued the Mindoro Tamaraws, 79-68, in the opener for their second straight win that revved up their drive toward regaining the 2022 national title.
The Abra Weavers recovered from a flat start to trounce the Negros Muscovados, 69-57, in the second game and boost their record to 3-2 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Propped up by the big hometown crowd, the Pangasinan Heatwaves torched the Marikina Shoemasters, 80-68, in the nightcap to raise their record to 2-3.
Powered by Rob Celiz, JP Maguilano and Jay Collado, Nueva Ecija took control at 53-37 and was never headed.
Celiz finished with 16 points and five rebounds to earn best player honors. Maguilano posted 11 points plus five rebounds and Collado tallied 10 points plus three rebounds for Nueva Ecija, now being coached by Don Dulay.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Mer Jesper Ayaay with nine points and seven rebounds and prized recruit JB Bahio with eight points and six rebounds.
Mindoro, which tasted its fourth straight defeat after an initial win, got 12 points each from homegrown John Jerrick Caspe and veteran Karl Bono, 11 points from top gun Andres Desiderio and eight from homegrown Rogel Vaygan.
Bolstered by the return of 6-foot-7 Prince Caperal, Abra charged back from a 0-12 start and a 34-37 halftime deficit to pull away at 69-56.
Wendelino Comboy led Abra with 15 points plus three rebounds, followed by Michael Canete with 14 points plus five rebounds.
Caperal tallied 11 points and seven rebounds while prized recruit Clint Escamis posted 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals for the Weavers.
Negros, with no player able to break twin digits, dropped to a tie with its tormentor at 3-2. The Muscovados got nine points from Alvin John Capobres.
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