NUEVA Ecija and Zamboanga took different routes to victories in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round on Saturday at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
The Rice Vanguards surged ahead early in the fourth quarter and never looked back to subdue home team Quezon Province, 81-68, while Master Sardines rallied to force overtime and down Abra, 76-68.
Spearheaded by Will McAloney, Nueva Ecija took command at 67-53, then foiled the Huskers' rallies to climb to 20-3 and move within sight of North Division and overall pacesetters San Juan (23-1) and Pampanga (23-2).
McAloney posted 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals, followed by Billy Robles with 11 points, six rebounds, plus two steals, and Robby Celiz with 10 points, five rebounds and threee assists for the 2022 MPBL titlist.
Quezon absorbed its second straight loss despite L-Jay Gonzales' 19-point, 7-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal effort and dropped to 18-5, barely ahead of Zamboanga (19-6) in the South Division.
Trailing, 55-60, with four minutes left, Master Sardines scored the game's last five points through Bong Galanza and Joseph Gabayni to force the extension at 60-all.
From a 68-65 count, Renzo Subido, Galanza, and Jayvee Marcelino, bunched eight points for Zamboanga to snap Abra's five-win run and pull down the Weavers to 15-8.
Galanza wound up with 19 points, three rebounds, and three steals, as Joey Barcuma finished with 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
Abra got 16 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals from veteran Mark Yee and 12 points plus nine rebounds from John Lloyd Clemente.
Binan scores sixth straight
Binan Tatak Gel sustained its climb with a 75-56 dumping of Bicolandia in the opener.
Powered by Pamboy Raymundo, JJ Pido, and Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Binan led throughout and by as far as 66-38 en route to its sixth straight win and a 17-8 slate.
Raymundo chalked 13 points, highlighted by four triples, while Pido and Rocacurva added 10 each.
Although Binan yielded the rebounding battle, 36-38, the Lagunenses compensated by drilling eight triples against only two for the Oragons, while also committing fewer turnovers, 14-24.
Also-ran Bicolandia (3-21) got 14 points from Cyrus Llarena, 11 from Charles Burgos, and 10 from Chris Javier.
The MPBL goes to the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Monday with games pitting Sarangani against Caloocan at 4 p.m., Marikina against Rizal at 6 p.m., and Manila against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
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