NUEVA Ecija and Batangas City Tanduay took different routes forward in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season eliminations on Wednesday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The Rice Vanguards started strong and went on to tally a wire-to-wire 65-57 victory over Davao Occidental, while the Rum Masters shook off a sluggish opening to down Paranaque, 80-72.
Leaning on a spread-out offense, Nueva Ecija erected a 43-24 halftime spread and repelled the Tigers' comeback attempts to notch its 18th win against two losses in the two-division, 29-team tournament.
JC Cullar presided over the Rice Vanguards' repeated assaults with 10 points, followed by Robby Celiz with nine points and 10 rebounds, Ed Daquioag with nine points, and MJ Ayaay with seven points.
Davao, which slid to 15-8, got 13 points from Mac Tallo and eight each from Chris Lalata and Dariel Bayla.
While Nueva Ecija took off right away, Batangas played catch up to the Patriots until the middle of the second quarter, 24-29.
Jeckster Apinan, Levi Hernandez, and Cedric Ablaza finally found their range and pushed the Rum Masters ahead, 62-60, after the third quarter.
MJ Dela Virgen and Hernandez then combined for 14 points, outscoring all of Paranaque, who could only produce 12, to propel Batangas to a 16-7 slate.
Ablaza finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks, and was backstopped by Hernandez (15 points plus six rebounds), Apinan (14 points plus four rebounds), and Dela Virgen (11 points, five assists, three rebounds, plus four steals).
King Importante also shone for the Rum Masters, the 2018 MPBL inaugural titlist, with 12 rebounds and six points, and so did Dawn Ochea with six points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
The Patriots, who skidded to 13-9, got 18 points plus four rebounds from JP Sarao, 11 points, four rebounds, plus four assists from Jielo Razon, and 10 points plus four rebounds from Kristan Hernandez.
Bataan rises
Bataan trounced Bicolandia, 108-91, in the opener to climb to 6-16.
Yves Sazon paced the Risers with 24 points and four rebounds, followed by Alex Ramos with 20 points and eight rebounds, Edrian Ramirez with 16 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, and Jeff Santos with 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
The Oragons tumbled to 3-19 despite Shaq Alanes' 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists; Lord Casajeros' 17 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals; and Cyrus Llarenas' 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The MPBL returns to the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday with games pitting Marikina against Mindoro at 4 p.m., Negros against Manila at 6 p.m., and Muntinlupa against host Pasay at 8 p.m.
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