Nueva Ecija shares MPBL lead, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa prevail

Nueva Ecija shared the lead while Valenzuela gained trained traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round on Thursday at the WES Arena in Valenzuela City.

Showing depth and cohesion, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards routed Bacolod City of Smiles, 95-77, to raise its record to 7-0 and join the San Juan Knights and the Quezon Huskers at the top of the 29-team tournament.

Playing at their home court for the first time this year, the Valenzuela Classics trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 98-70, and climbed to 6-4 in the standings. All 14 Rice Vanguards fielded scored as the Vanguards, the 2022 MPBL champions, led by as far as 90-68 and were never threatened by the Bacolenos, who dropped to 1-8.

Billy Robles paced Nueva Ecija with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, followed by JB Bahio, who posted 11 points, 12 rebounds plus 4 assists, and Rob Celiz with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.
Bacolod got 14 points from Jacob Galicia and 12 from Danny Marilao.

It was the same story for Valenzuela, which stormed ahead, 98-68, through the efforts of Ryan Trazona, Michael Angelo Macion and Fil-Am CJ Payawal. Trazona tallied 16 points, spiked by 3 triples, Macion posted 13 points plus 6 rebounds, and Payawal chalked 13 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Homegrown Jameson Hiro and Darell Manliguez chipped in 8 points each for the Classics. Bulacan skidded to 1-9 despite the 32-point, 7-rebound, 7-assists effort of former Valenzuela star Paolo Hubalde and the 11-point contribution of Ralph Manzo.

In the opener, Muntinlupa bunched 11 points in the third quarter to subdue Sarangani, 75-71,and catch up with its victim at 2-7.

The Muntinlupa Cagers surged ahead, 67-51, and used it as a buffer to weather the Marlins’ final assault.
Jaspar Derek Cuevas led the Cagers with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, followed by Errol Jay Bongay with 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Saragnai got 27 points and 5 rebounds from Ryan Sual 10 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks from King Destacamento, and 11 points, 8 rebounds plus, 3 assists from Jomar Madayag.

Apart from yielding the boards, 46-61, the Marlins were hounded by poor free throw shooting, sinking only 14 of 29 attempts as against 18 of 28 for the Cagers.

Caption: Billy Robles delivers for Nueva Ecija.