FAVORITES Nueva Ecija, Manila, and home team Pasay won on Wednesday to keep climbing the standings in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Rice Vanguards, the 2022 MPBL champions, trounced Valenzuela, 93-83, to raise their record to 15-2 in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Powered by Will McAloney and Robby Celiz, Nueva Ecija pulled away, 77-54, before the third quarter ended and proceeded to hand the Classic their 10th defeat in 20 starts.
McAloney tallied 20 points, highlighted by a 10-of-10 performance from the charity stripe, 10 rebounds, and three assists, as Celiz provided support with 11 points, seven rebounds, plus four assists, and so did MJ Ayaay and John Wilson with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Following McAloney's example, the Rice Vanguards went a perfect 19-of-19 from free throws as against the Classics' 19-of-26 for 73.1 percent.
Valenzuela got 15 points from John Rey Sumido, 14 points from Darrell Manliguez, 13 points plus five rebounds from Michael Macion, and nine points, six rebounds, six assists, plus two steals from Paolo Hubalde.
Pasay, meantime, defended home court against Paranaque, 78-72.
While Nueva Ecija sailed smoothly against Valenzuela, the Voyagers endured wavy moments before sinking the Patriots to 12-8.
Pasay, which led by as many as 45-29, bunched seven points, including Axel Inigo's triple that pushed them ahead, 73-67, with three minutes left.
Inigo wound up with 16 points and four rebounds, Warren Bonifacio posted 13 points plus six rebounds, Dhon Reverente 11 points plus 13 rebounds, and Jasper Salenga with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Paranaque drew 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals from Joshua Gallano and 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, plus two steals from Jielo Razon, as well as 10 points plus four rebounds from homegrown JR Olegario
READ: Greg Slaughter double-double tows Manila past Marikina
In the opener, the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc Stars battered the Marikina Shoemasters, 91-76.
The MPBL goes to the Kamalig Gym in Orion, Bataan on Thursday with games pitting Rizal against Davao at 4 p.m., Bacolod against Batangas at 6 p.m., and San Juan against Bataan at 8 p.m.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
