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| Pamboy Raymundo shines for Binan. MPBL |
MANILA--Nueva Ecija and Zamboanga took different routes to victories in the MPBL Sixth Season elimination round on Saturday at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards surged ahead early in the fourth quarter and never looked back to subdue the Quezon Huskers, 81-68, in the nightcap, while Zamboanga Master Sardines rallied to force overtime and beat Abra, 76-68, in the second game.
Spearheaded by Will McAloney, Nueva Ecija took command at 67-53, then foiled Quezon's rallies to climb to 20-3 and move within sight of North Division and overall pacesetters San Juan (23-1) and Pampanga (23-2).
McAloney posted 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, followed by Billy Robles with 11 points, 6 rebounds plus 2 steals, and Robby Celiz with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for the 2022 MPBL titlist.
The Huskers absorbed their second straight loss despite LJ Gonzales' 19-point, 7-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal effort and dropped to 18-5, barely ahead of Zamboanga (19-6) in the South Division.
Trailing, 55-60, with 4 minutes and 7 seconds left, Zamboanga scored the game's last five points through Pedrito Galanza and Joseph Gabayni to force the extension at 60-all.
From a 68-65 count, Zamboanga, behind Renzo Subido, Galanza, and Jayvee Marcelino, bunched 8 points to snap Abra's five-win run and pull down the Weavers to 15-8.
Galanza wound up with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals while Rey Joey Barcuma finished with 12 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds for Zamboanga.
Abra got 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals from veteran Mark Yee and 12 points plus 9 rebounds from John Lloyd Clemente.
Binan Tatak Gel sustained its climb with a 75-56 dumping of Bicolandia in the opener.
Powered by Pamboy Raymundo, Jeric James Pido, and Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Binan led throughout and by as far as 66-38 en route to its sixth straight win and a 17-8 slate.
Raymundo chalked 13 points, highlighted by four triples, while Pido and Rocacurva added 10 each.
Although Binan yielded the rebounding battle, 36-38, the Lagunenses compensated by drilling in eight triples against only two for Bicolandia and committing fewer turnovers, 14-24.
Also-ran Bicolandia (3-21) got 14 points from Cyrus Jarell Llarena, 11 from Charles Burgos, and 10 from Chris Javier.
The MPBL goes to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Monday with games pitting Sarangani against Caloocan at 4 p.m., Marikina against Rizal at 6 p.m. and Manila against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
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