PLAYOFF-bound Nueva Ecija rallied to beat Abra, 81-78, on Monday in Season 6 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
Trailing, 57-67, the Rice Vanguards opened the fourth quarter with a 13-1 tear to wrest control, then sealed their 23rd win against three losses through Billy Robles and John Wilson.
Robles drilled in a triple and a short jumper while Wilson canned two charities with 8.5 seconds left for the final count.
It was Robby Celiz, however, whobest player honors with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists for Nueva Ecija, which only trails San Juan (25-1) and Pampanga (26-2) in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Will McAloney supported Celiz with 13 points while Wilson and Robles chipped in 10 points each.
Abra fell to 15-10 despite Batino's 17-point, 12-rebound effort and Wendel Comboy's 15 points.
Earlier, the Valenzuela Classics dumped the Bicolandia Oragons, 98-54, to climb to an even 13-13 slate and remain in playoff contention.
Mark Montuano led Valenzuela with 15 points, followed by Haley Ajero with 12, John Rey Sumido with 11 and Paolo Hubalde who finished with an all-around game of 10 points, nine assists, four steals and four rebounds.
Bicolandia, which tumbled to 3-23, got 15 points from Shaquille Alanes.
The MPBL pivots to the Paco Arena on Tuesday with games pitting Caloocan against Bulacan, Bataan against Iloilo, and Binan against Marikina.
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