PACESETTER Nueva Ecija cruised past Cebu, 108-78, on Thursday for its 16th straight win in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Powered by veteran John Wilson, new acquisition Nick Demusis, and Jammer Jamito, the Rice Vanguards turned hot in the second half, leading as far as 91-56 to remain unbeaten in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
San Juan trounced Pasig, 77-64, in the nightcap to catch up with Abra at 14-1 in the chase for playoff berths.
Wilson posted 17 points, including 3 triples, 3 rebounds and 2 assists; Demusis, formerly of the Bacoor Strikers, tallied 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to clinch best player honors.
Jamito came through with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists to complement Toto Villarias’ 15 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds, and Jayvee Marcelino’s 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Cebu, fielding only 7 players, fell to 4-12 despite Jan Jamon’s 15 points and 8 rebounds, Paulo Hubalde’s 15 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, Dolan Adlawan’s 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks, Ken Holmqvist’s 12 points and 8 rebounds, and Mark Meneses’ 10 points plus 12 rebounds.
Dexter Maiquez shone for the Knights with 20 points and 11 rebounds, Michael Calisaan with 14 points and 5 rebounds, and homegrown John Galinato with 13 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
Newly activated Aldrech Ramos notched 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists for the Knights, who hardly missed Top Gun Orlan Wamar.
Pasig skidded to 7-7 as Warlo James Batac’s 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, and Chito Jaime’s 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists went for naught.
Zamboanga SiKat leaned on James Una’s clutch hits to repulse Bataan, 84-82, in the opener.
The 6-foot-5 Una, formerly of San Sebastian College, scored back-to-back baskets inside, the last with 9 seconds left to push Zamboangra to 14-3.
Reggz Gabat, John Paul Cauilan and John Arthur Dalisay presided over Zamboanga’s 3-pronged attack with 17 points each.
The 6-foot Gabat also posted 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals to clinch best player honors over Dalisay with 8 rebounds and 2 assists, and Cauilan with 4 rebounds.
Una wound up with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks for Zamboanga, which moved ahead at 73-65 nearing the halfway mark of the fourth quarter.
Bataan tumbled to 6-11 despite Dom Vera’s 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Yves Sazon’s 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and Carl Bringas’ 10 points and 8 rebounds.
The MPBL goes to the Pola Gym in Oriental Mindoro on Saturday, June 21, with games pitting Bacolod against Pangasinan at 4 p.m., Rizal against Imus at 6 p.m., and Mindoro against
