NUEVA ECIJA subdued Pasay, 81-72, on Tuesday in Game 1 of their quarterfinal playoff in Season 6 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) inside the packed Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Spearheaded by Robby Celiz, the Rice Vanguards led by as many as 80-64 before cruising to the victory that put them on the verge of clinching a semifinal slot in the North Division.
Celiz posted 23 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks to earn best player honors over JB Bahio, Emman Calo and JC Cullar.
The 6-foot-5 Bahio tallied 11 points plus five rebounds, while Cullar added 10 points and five assists.
Calo scored all of his 10 points in the final quarter including the final five for the Rice Vanguards.
The Rice Vanguards, being coached by Don Dulay, avenged a stinging 65-64 defeat to the Pasay Voyagers in the round-robin elimination phase and can cut the best-of-three series short at their homecourt, Nueva Ecija Coliseum, on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Pasay got a game-high 24 points from Laurenz Victoria, 16 points from Jasper Salenga and nine points, 15 rebounds and five assists from Warren Bonifacio.
The MPBL Playoffs continue on Thursday at the Batangas City Coliseum with games pitting Binan against South Cotabato at 6 p.m. and Davao against Batangas at 8 p.m.
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