Comebacking Basilan Viva rallied furiously in regulation before going to Gab Dagangon in the extra period to nail its first win after two failed bids with an 82-80 win over Valenzuela in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1Xbet-MPBL 2025 Season on Thursday, March 20, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Dagangon made seven points in the extension as Basilan finally dispatched Valenzuela, which leaned on Jan Fomento’s 10 points, all from charities.
Behind 67-60, Basilan poured 10 points and held Valenzuela to just two in the last 3 minutes and 21 seconds to knot the count at 69.
The Portmasters could have won outright, but veteran Alex Cabagnot missed his second free throw after making the first with 1.9 seconds left, giving Valenzuela a reprieve.
Jeff Viernes wound up with 16 points, 8 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Basilan, but Dagangon earned best player honors with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
Basilan also got 14 points and 8 rebounds from Rabeh Al-Hussaini and 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.
In other games, Nueva Ecija crushed Manila Batang Quiapo, 113-83, to cruise to the top spot with a 3-0 mark, while the Bataan Risers woke up in the third quarter and bested the Cebu Classic, 79-69, in the opener.
Flaunting the depth and firepower of their roster, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards zoomed to a 31-13 spread and were never threatened en route to their third straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
All but one of 15 Rice Vanguards fielded by Coach Don Dulay managed to score, with Rob Celiz spearheading he assault with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
Jammer Jamito contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block, Jaycee Marcelino notched 13 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds, Ryan Paule Costelo 11 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, and John Byron Villarias 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists for Nueva Ecija, the 2022 national champion.
With Celiz at the helm, the Rice Vanguards erected an 84-48 spread late in the third quarter, pulling down Manila to 1-2 despite Richard Albo’s 20-point, 4-rebound output.
Homegrown Johnrey Chongpico added 11 points to Manila’s futile stand, followed by Algin Andaya, Yvan Ludovice and John Derico Lopez with 10 each.
