Debuting teams Nueva Ecija and Quezon Province shook off sluggish starts to beat their opponents on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards rallied to forge overtime where they blitzed Quezon City TODA Aksyon, 80-74, to duplicate the Quezon Huskers’ scrambling 88-81 victory over the Valenzuela Classics.
In the opener, Rizal XentroMall overcame a stiff fight from Bicolandia to tally its third straight victory, 85-82, and share the lead in the round-robin eliminations.
JC Cullar canned a short jumper to extend the game for Nueva Ecija, 66-66, after which Will McAloney, Mer Jesper Ayaay, JB Bahio and Eman Calo took over the scoring chores to lift the Rice Vanguards to victory after trailing for 33 minutes and 9 seconds.
Ayaay wound up with 17 points and 7 rebounds while McAloney finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks for Nueva Ecija Coach Don Dulay.
Nueva Ecija, the Fourth Season national champion, also drew power from Rob Celiz with 13 points and 5 rebounds, Cullar with 12 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, and Bahio with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.
Quezon City, which suffered its first defeat in three games, got 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals from Rafael Are and 15 points plus 4 rebounds from Abdul Sawat.
Valenzuela surged ahead, 49-34, and held the rein for a total of 27 minutes and 17 seconds, but in the end, it was Quezon City that shone behind LJay Gonzales, Cyrus Torres, RJ Minerva and Ximone Sandagon.
