The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards subdued the Mindoro Tamaraws, 104-72, on Monday to grab the solo lead in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBetMPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Pasay City.
Gathering strength as the game wore on, the Rice Vanguards posted their biggest spread at the final buzzer for their fourth straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
In other games, debuting San Juan struggled past Cebu, 63-61, in the second game, while the Abra Weavers regained form and clobbered the Bulacan Kuyas, 114-69, in the opener.
Recruit Christian Manaytay, veterans Robby Celiz and John Wilson and Mer Jesper Ayaay found their mark for Nueva Ecija, which outgunned Mindoro from long distance, 12 against six triples.
Manaytay, a 6-foot-5 former UST Growling Tiger, tallied 15 points, including two triples, five rebounds and 2 assists and was chosen best player over Celiz, with 13 points and five rebounds, John Wilson, with 13 points and four rebounds, and Ayaay, 12 points, highlighted by a perfect 3 of 3 triples, and two assists.
Trailing Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL champion, is reigning back-to-back titlist Pampanga, last year’s losing finalist Quezon Province, and Rizal Xentromall with 3-0 records.
The Cebu Classic muffed two chances to force overtime, with Dennis Santos muffing a layup and Limuel Tampos missing the follow-up in the last 5.3 seconds.
Groping for form, the San Juan Knights trailed after three quarters, 43-49, before Dexter Maiquez poured 11 of his game-high 16 points in the fourth to emerge best player and bail out the 2019 national champions.
Maiquez, who also snatched 12 rebounds, got support from Michael Calisaan with 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Kenneth Neil Villapando and Jose Manuel Sabandal with 7 points each.
San Juan top gun Orlan Wamar was held to six points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals by the Classics, who drew 14 points and 6 rebounds from Santos, who could have passed the ball to the open Tampos instead of driving in.
Cebu, which tumbled to 1-3, also got 13 points and 6 rebounds from Tampus and 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from Hiro.
Stunned by the Pasay Voyagers, 60-70, on March 19, the Weavers surged beyond reach after three quarters, 82-42, then fielded homegrown players to finish the task and climb to 3-1.
Redel Fabro, formerly of Olivarez College, poured 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and snagged 3 rebounds as the Weavers led by as far as 111-64 and handed the Kuyas their fourth straight defeat.
Dave Ildefonso posted 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to clinch best player honors over the 6-foot Fabro and Will Keane Lee, a prized find from Cordillera Career Development College, tallied 13 points, 3 blocks and 2 rebounds; Joshua David contributed 12 points, 7 assists and 4 4 rebounds; and CJ Austria chalked 12 points and 2 assists.
