The streaking Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards rode on two scoring spurts in the fourth quarter to subdue the San Juan Knights, 97-86, on Saturday and keep top spot in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
It was the 11th straight win for the Rice Vanguards, the only unscathed squad in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
San Juan suffered its first defeat in 10 starts and dropped to joint second with reigning back-to-back titlist Pampanga and Abra Solid North in the race for playoff spots.
The count was tied at 73 until Nueva Ecija cut loose with 11 points, sparked by Jammer Jamito, against two free throws by San Juan Top Gun Orlan Wamar, 84-75.
San Juan countered to within 82-88 behind Arvin Gamboa, but Nueva Ecija’s Rob Celiz, Jaycee Marcelino and Will McAloney combined in a 9-2 salvo to seal the outcome, 97-84, with 1 minute and 19 seconds left.
Celiz tallied 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to clinch best player honors over McAloney, who posted 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
John Wilson supported them with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, along with Marcelino, the 2022 MVP who pooled 11 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.
San Juan drew 18 points, spiked by four triples, 9 assists and 4 rebounds from Wamar, 14 points each from Gamboa and Dexter Maiquez, and 11 points from Michael Calisaan.
The Pangasinan Heatwaves banked on Vic Manuel, Hesed Gabo and Pedrito Galanza to thwart the Pasay Voyagers, 91-78, and break a three-game skid earlier.
Manuel and Gabo scored seven each while Galanza added six as they outscored the Voyagers, 20-15, in the fourth quarter and climbed to 6-4.
Lervin Flores posted 11 points and 10 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Manuel, who chalked up 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
Harvey Pagsanjan backed them with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, Gabo with 9 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, Galanza with 9 points and 2 rebounds, Ian Melencio with 9 points and 2 rebounds, and Michael Mabulac with 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Pasay, which fell to 7-5, got 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists from Laurenz Vctoria, 12 points and 2 rebounds from Jasper Salenga, and 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists from Cyrus Tabi.
Zamboanga Sikat stretched its hot streak with a hard-earned 82-77 victory over Quezon City Galeries Taipan in the opener.
The Taipans threatened at 77-80 following two free throws and a jumper by Dave Bernabe, but James Sena countered with two charities to seal Zamboanga’s fifth straight win and 10-2 record.
Zamboanga trails only Nueva Ecija, San Juan, Pampanga and Abra Weavers.
Abdul Sawat led Zamboanga with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, although he left the game in the homestretch after dislocating a finger.
Other Zamboanguenos who delivered were John Arthur Calisay with 12 points and 6 rebounds, Sena with 12 points and 3 rebounds, JP Cauilan with 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Ichie Altamirano with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Med Salim, Sawat and John Edcel Rojas joined forces to push Zamboanga ahead, 73-61, midway through the fourth quarter, but Nino Ibanez bunched 8 points to narrow the gap, 71-77, with 1 minute and 41 seconds left.
Quezon City skidded to 3-8 despite Jayson Puray’s 13 points and 4 assists, Jerome Santos’ 12 points and 9 rebounds, Ibanez’s 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, Vincent Cunanan’s 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists, and Dave Bernabe’s 10 points and 4 rebounds.
The MPBL returns to the Orion Sports Complex on Monday with games pitting Abra against Bacolod at 4 p.m., Caloocan against Pampanga at 6 p.m., and Ilagan against host Bataan at 8 p.m.
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