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| Will McAloney sparkles for the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards. MPBL |
MANILA--The streaking Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced the Muntinlupa Cagers, 86-74, on Monday to keep the solo lead in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
With Will McAloney at the helm, Nueva Ecija led as far as 84-62 halfway through the fourth quarter and cruised to its 17th straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The Rice Vanguards are assured of a slot in the playoffs with the Abra Solid North Weavers (16-1) and the San Juan Knights (15-1).
McAloney posted 22 points and 4 rebounds to clinch best player honors over 2022 MPBL MVP Jaycee Marcelino, who notched 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Rob Celiz with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks, and Jayvee Marcelino with 9 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Muntinlupa, which absorbed its fifth straight defeat, tumbled to 10-7 despite Kurt Lojera's 16 points and 6 rebounds, John Cantimbuhan's 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, and Dom Matillano's 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The Pasay Voyagers recovered from a sluggish start to beat Zamboanga SiKat, 75-63, in the nightcap.
Cyrus Tabi sparkled with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals and towed Pasay to an 11-6 slate. Warren Bonifacio supported with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Brian Wendel Hilario with 11 points.
Zamboanga, which sped to a 13-0 spread, fell to 14-4 as only Abdul Sawal, with 15 points and 5 rebounds, and Reggz Gabat, with 11 points and 4 rebounds, struck back.
The Voyagers found their range, sinking 11 of 32 triple tries and 10 of 12 free throw attempts against only 5 of 28 and 12 of 22, respectively, for the Zamboanguenos.
In the opener, the Davao Occidental Tigers banked on Reymart Escobido to stun the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 81-79, in overtime.
Escobido, a 5-foot-10 guard out of San Sebastian College, poured seven of his 10 points in the extra period to help Davao improve to 7-8.
It was Keith Agovida, however, who emerged as the best player with 25 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Joseph Terso with 15 points, laced by 3 triples, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals; and Chris de Chavez with 9 points, all from rainbow territory.
Ruling the boards, 46-37, the Tigers led by as many as 34-22, from which the Golden Coolers couldn't recover and tumble to 10-7,
Rizal's Samboy De Leon drove in with 9.6 seconds left to force overtime at 70-70.
The Golden Coolers got 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists from Eric Camson, 14 points and 2 rebounds from Robin Julian Nayve, 12 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds from De Leon, 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists from Mike Canete, and 11 points plus 2 steals from Alwyn Alday.
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