NUEVA Ecija got back to joint first in the standings, while Valenzuela gained 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 Rice Vanguards routed Bacolod City of Smiles, 95-77, to raise their record to 7-0 and join the San Juan Knights and Quezon Huskers atop the leaderboard of the 29-team tournament.
Playing at home for the first time this year, the Classics then trounced the Bulacan Kuyas, 98-70, and climbed to 6-4 in the standings.
All 14 Rice Vanguards fielded in scored as the 2022 MPBL champions led by as much as 90-68 and were never threatened by Bacolod.
Billy Robles paced Nueva Ecija with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, followed by JB Bahio who posted an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double on top of four assists, and Rob Celiz with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
It was the same story for Valenzuela, which stormed ahead, 98-68, through the efforts of Ryan Trazona, Michael Macion, and Fil-Am CJ Payawal.
Trazona tallied 16 points, spiked by three triples, Macion posted 13 points plus six rebounds, and Payawal chalked 13 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
On the other hand, Bulacan skidded to 1-9 despite the 32-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist effort of former Valenzuela star Paolo Hubalde and the 11-point contribution of Ralph Manzo, while Bacolod got 14 points from Jacob Galicia and 12 from Danny Marilao before dropping to 1-8.
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 Cagers surged ahead, 67-51, and used it as a buffer to weather the Marlins' final assault. Jaspar Cuevas led Muntinlupa with 14 points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals, followed by Errol Bongay with 12 points and six rebounds.
Sarangani got 27 points and five rebounds from Ryan Sual; 10 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks from King Destacamento, and 11 points, eight rebounds, plus three assists from Jomar Madayag.
The MPBL returns to the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna on Friday with Pangasinan facing Davao at 4 p.m., Rizal battling Bataan at 6 p.m., and Manila tackling Binan at 8 p.m.
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