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The San Juan Knights and the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced their opponents on Tuesday to take a share of the lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the FilOIl Flying C Centre in San Juan.
San Juan led throughout and subdued Valenzuela, 93-81, while Nueva Ecija turned hot in the second half and drubbed Marikina, 88-64, for their ninth straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament. They caught up with the idle Quezon Huskers, also with a 9-0 record.
Michael Calisaan paced San Juan with 18 points, followed by Dexter Maiquez with 13 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, and Orlan Wamar, who chipped in 12 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
The Valenzuela Classics, who fell to 6-6, got 18 points and 7 rebounds from JR Quinahan, 14 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals from Darell Manliguez, and 13 points plus 4 rebounds from Fil-AM CJ Payawal. San Juan coach Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also drew 9 points from AC Soberano and 8 points each from Michael Malonzo and veteran Reyniel Hugnatan.
Unlike San Juan, Nueva Ecija struggled in the first half.
Barely ahead, 42-41, at the break, Nueva Ecija poured in 32 points in the third quarter to pull away for good, 74-48.
JC Cullar delivered all of his 7 points, while Michael Juico and Ryan Paule Costelo added 5 each for Nueva Ecija in that span, whereas Marikina managed just 7 points.
Emman Calo emerged top scorer for Nueva Ecija with 13 points, followed by Will McAloney with 12, Juico with 9, and Rob Celiz with 8 points, 7 rebounds plus 4 assists. The Rice Vanguards, the 2022 MPBL champions, stormed beyond recall, 83-53, midway through the fourth quarter. Jay Collado and John Bryon Villarias also tallied 7 points each for Nueva Ecija Coach Don Dulay.
Marikina tumbled to 1-10 despite the 15-point, 3-assist output of Mel Mabigat and the 13-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 6-steal effort of Eric Joseph Pili.
Pasay clobbered Bulacan, 90-69, to climb to 7-4.
Laurenz Victoria submitted 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, while Warren Bonifacio contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pasay Voyagers, who also drew 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists from Patrick Sleat.
Bulacan skidded to 2-10 despite the 15-point, 11-rebound effort of Jan Baltazar and the 12-point, 9-rebound, 4-assist output of Kristan Hernandez.
The MPBL goes to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday. The games pit Davao against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Batangas against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Pangasinan against Rizal at 8 p.m.
Photo: Tiny Orlan Wamar plays big for San Jian.
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