Reigning MPBL king Pampanga deals Nueva Ecija its first defeat
Reigning MPBL king Pampanga deals Nueva Ecija its first defeat
PAMPANGA rode a fourth quarter scoring surge to subdue Nueva Ecija, 91-85, on Saturday and extend its hot streak in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the jam-packed Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Trailing, 75-76, the Giant Lanterns, sparked by Archie Concepcion's triple, unloaded 13 points against only four by the Rice Vanguards to seize control, 88-80, with two minutes left on the way to their 14th straight win after an initial loss in the round-robin eliminations of the 29-team tournament.
Nueva Ecija still threatened at 84-88 following two charities by Emman Calo and a layup by Robby Celiz, but Pampanga's Allen Liwag drove in for a short stab with 26.4 seconds to go to end the Rice Vanguards' perfect 12-game run and allow Quezon Province (13-0) to keep the solo lead.
Concepcion wound up with 20 points, spiked by four triples, three rebounds, and three steals to earn best player honors over reigning league MVP Justine Baltazar who posted 16 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Other Giant Lanterns who shone were Kurt Reyson with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists plus two steals; Encho Serrano with 15 points, six assists, and four rebounds; and Rence Alcoriza with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Led by the 6-foot-8 Baltazar and the 6-6 Liwag, who snagged eight rebounds, defending champion Pampanga ruled the boards, 55-37.
Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL titlist, got 23 points and seven rebounds from Will McAloney; 11 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and two steals from JC Cullar; 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists from Celiz; and 10 points, six rebounds, and three steals from Byron Villarias.
Big boost for Pasay, Valenzuela
In other games, Pasay bested Bataan, 82-78, and Valenzuela thwarted Bacolod, 88-81.
Powered by usual suspects Patrick Sleat, Laurenz Victoria, and Warren Bonifacio, the Voyagers returned to orbit after a three-game skid and rose to 8-7.
Pasay's Patrick Sleat
PHOTO: MPBL
Sleat tallied 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, followed by Victoria with 16 points, three assists, and two steals, then Bonifacio with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists.
The Risers, on the other hand, suffered their third straight defeat and plummeted to 4-11 despite the 23-point, 8-rebound effort of Rhaffy Octobre and the 17-point, 4-rebound output of Yves Sazon.
READ: Santos' hot start ignites Valenzuela to much-needed MPBL win
For their part, the Classic drew 29 points, 23 in the first half, seven rebounds, and two assists from Dennis Santos to improve to 8-8.
The MPBL goes to the San Andres Sports Complex on Monday, with games pitting Bulacan against Iloilo at 4 p.m., Abra against Batangas at 6 p.m., and South Cotabato against Manila at 8 p.m.