NUEVA Ecija routed Bataan, 85-70, on Friday to return to a share of the lead in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
The Rice Vanguards posted their 12th win in as many games, putting them back at the helm with the Quezon Huskers in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Led by Chris Bitoon, 2022 MPBL titlist Nueva Ecija pulled away at 60-42 and were never threatened by the Risers, who fell to 4-10.
Bitoon posted 14 points, seven assists, two steals, and two rebounds and was backed by Byron Villarias with 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists; Will McAloney with 11 points and six rebounds; and Robby Celiz, JB Bahio, and Emman Calo with 10 points each.
Bataan got 18 points and eight rebounds from Mitchelle Maynes and 12 points from James Castro.
Defending champion Pampanga then battered Bulacan, 124-81, in the opener, while Quezon City nipped Pangasinan, 78-74, in the nightcap.
READ: Pampanga crushes Bulacan by 43 points
QC met stiff resistance before raising their record to 7-7, thanks to JP Cauilan's triple with 9.5 seconds left to give them back the lead, 74-72. Pangasinan's inbound error then paved the way for Rhinwil Yambing to snag the offensive rebound off Paeng Are's missed second free throw in the dying moments.
Paul Garcia paced Quezon City with 22 points and two steals, followed by Yambing with 19 points, nine rebounds, plus three steals and Chino Mosqueda with 11 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
The Heatwaves, who fell to 5-9, got 18 points plus four assists from Hesed Gabo and 12 points plus three rebounds from Allen Mina.
The MPBL returns to the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday, with Pasay battling Manila at 4 p.m., Davao tackling Abra at 6 p.m., and Valenzuela clashing with Batangas at 8 p.m.
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