NUEVA Ecija and Rizal Xentromall notched contrasting wins on Saturday to join the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season pacesetters on Saturday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The Rice Vanguards held the Basilan Viva Portmasters without a field goal in the last seven minutes to prevail, 71-66, and climb to 2-0 in the round-robin elimination round of the 30-team tournament.
The Golden Coolers now tote the same card following an impressive 111-81 pounding of Manila Batang Quiapo, 111-81.
Also at 2-0 are the Pangasinan Heatwaves and the Abra Weavers.
Robby Celiz led Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL champion, with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists, as Jaycee Marcelino posted 18 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Basilan, which fell to 0-2, led for the last time at 62-61, following two free throws by Sherwin Concepcion with five and a half minutes to go.
The Portmasters, however, couldn't buy a bucket after that, settling for two charities each by Jeff Viernes and Emman Calo against the 10 points pooled by McAloney, the Marcelino twins, John Byron Villarias, and Billy Robles.
Basilan got 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists from Alex Cabagnot; 11 points plus four rebounds from Concepcion, and 10 points plus and rebounds from Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Arwind Santos settled for four points plus 11 rebounds.
Alday sparkled for Rizal with 27 points, build on seven triples and six charities, to go with four rebounds and two assists, while Michael Canete tallied 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Manila skidded to 1-1 despite the 23-point, 8-rebound, 2-steal effort of Richard Albo and the 11-point, 7-rebound, 2-assist output of Algin Andaya.
Valenzuela wins battle of the north Manila vs. QC
Valenzuela recovered from a meltdown to subdue Quezon City Galeries Taipan, 74-66.
Riding a 16-point binge, the Classics led by as far as 41-26 only to allow QC to equalize after three quarters, 54-54.
Kobe Monje, however, came to Valenzuela's rescue, sparking an eight-point flurry that put the count at 64-57, before bunching five points to tilt the balance and lift the Classics' slate to 1-1.
The 6-foot-4 Monje, a former Letran Knight, posted 19 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and nine rebounds. Jan Fomento provided support with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals, followed by JR Alabanza with nine points and nine rebounds, and Jonathan Ralf Gesalem with nine points and five assists.
Quezon City dropped to 1-1 as only Nino Ibanez (18 points, three steals) and Jayson Punay (11 points, six rebounds) struck back.
The MPBL goes to the Bataan People's Center in Balanga on Monday with games pitting Zamboanga against Sarangani at 4 p.m., Quezon Province against Cebu at 6 p.m., and Bataan against General Santos City at 8 p.m.
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