THE streaking Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced the Muntinlupa Cagers, 86-74, on Monday to keep the solo lead in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
With Will McAloney at the helm, Nueva Ecija led as many as 84-62 halfway through the fourth quarter and cruised to its 17th straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
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The Rice Vanguards are assured of a slot in the playoffs with the Abra Solid North Weavers (16-1) and the San Juan Knights (15-1).
McAloney posted 22 points and 4 rebounds to clinch Best Player honors over 2022 MPBL MVP Jaycee Marcelino, who notched 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Rob Celiz with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks, and Jayvee Marcelino with 9 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.
Muntinlupa, which absorbed its fifth straight defeat, tumbled to 10-7 despite Kurt Lojera's 16 points and 6 rebounds, John Cantimbuhan's 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and Dom Matillano's 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Pasay Voyagers recovered from a sluggish start to beat Zamboanga SiKat, 75-63, in the nightcap.
Cyrus Tabi sparkled with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals and towed Pasay to an 11-6 slate. Warren Bonifacio supported with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, and Brian Wendel Hilario with 11 points.
Zamboanga, which sped to a 13-0 spread, fell to 14-4 as only Abdul Sawal, with 15 points and 5 rebounds, and Reggz Gabat, with 11 points and 4 rebounds, struck back.
Tigers earn stripes
In the opener, the Davao Occidental Tigers banked on Reymart Escobido to stun the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 81-79, in overtime.
Escobido, a 5-foot-10 guard out of San Sebastian College, poured seven of his 10 points in the extra period to help Davao improve to 7-8.
It was Keith Agovida, however, who emerged as the best player with 25 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Joseph Terso with 15 points, laced by 3 triples, 7 rebounds and 3 steals; and Chris de Chavez with 9 points, all from rainbow territory.
Ruling the boards, 46-37, the Tigers led by as many as 34-22, from which the Golden Coolers couldn't recover and tumble to 10-7,
Rizal's Samboy De Leon drove in with 9.6 seconds left to force overtime at 70-70.
The MPBL goes to the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Tuesday with games pitting Manila against Pasig at 4 p.m., Batangas against Quezon City at 6 p.m., and host Quezon Province against Gensan at 8 p.m.
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