THE Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards quelled the Iloilo United Royals' final rally to prevail, 78-73, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Batangas City Coliseum.
With Iloilo threatening at 70-71, Nueva Ecija bunched six points to ease the pressure and proceed to tally its 14th win against 2 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Robby Celiz powered the Rice Vanguards with 22 points and 10 rebounds, followed by John Wilson with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
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Billy Robles posted 12 points and 4 rebounds while Mer Jesper Ayaay added 11 points and 6 rebounds for Nueva Ecija.
Iloilo, which clawed back from a 58-67 deficit to pull to within 68-69, dropped to 7-11 despite Mark Nonoy's 15-point, 9-assist, 5-rebound, 3-steal effort.
CJ Catapusan put together a 14-point, 7-rebound output, France Diaz added 12 points, eight rebound, five assists and two assists and Gwyne Capacio had a11-point, 3-rebound contribution.
Earlier, Negros erected a 24-point spread and used it as buffer to nip Bacolod, 96-92, and improve to 8-11.
Buenaventura Raflores led the Negros Muscovados with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Bacolod tumbled to 1-18 despite the 30-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist, 4-steal explosion of Louie Vigil.
The MPBL goes to the Cuneta Astrodome on Friday with games pitting Zamboanga against Quezon City at 4 p.m., South Cotabato against Abra at 6 p.m., and Quezon against Pasay at 8 p.m.
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