Nueva Ecija flaunted its firepower and battered South Cotabato, 94-75, on Friday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Orion Sports Complex in Bataan.
Powered by Robby Celiz, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards led by as far as 77-52 early in the fourth quarter and never wavered en route to their 21st win against 3 losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the two-division, 29-team tournament.
Quezon Province dumped Muntinlupa, 88-31, in the opener to climb to 19-5 and regain top spot in the South Division.
Celiz posted 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists to clinch the Daily Fantasy best player honors over Mer Jasper Ayaay with 13 points and Jay Collado with 12 points. June Kenneth Mocon and JC Cullar added 10 points each for the 2022 MPBL champions.
South Cotabato, which skidded to 15-11, got 12 points each from Chris Dumapig and Jervy Cruz and 11 points from Kyle Tolentino.
The Quezon Huskers held the Muntinlupa Cagers to a season-low in total points scored and an all-time low of 3 points in the second quarter that pulled down their victims to 7-19.
Homegrown icon Topeng Lagrama led the Huskers with 16 points, highlighted by a perfect 4 of 4 triple shooting, followed by Gab Banal with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, and Judel Fuentes and Rodel Gravera with 10 points each.
