Streaking Nueva Ecija kept the top spot while reigning champion Pampanga stayed nearby in the Manny Pacquiao presents MPBL 2025 Season on Wednesday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards dominated the Batang Kankaloo, 73-53, in the nightcap, while the Pampanga Giant Lanterns foiled the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 77-72, in the second game of a tripleheader.
The Valenzuela Classics leaned on Jan Formento and Kobe Monje to subdue the Gensan Warriors, 96-91, in the opener.
Formento and Monje fired six points each to negate the eight-point outburst of Gensan’s Larry Rodriguez in the extension period and lift the Classics to a 3-3 slate.
Nueva Ecija pounced on misfiring Caloocan to lead by as far as 55-29 and cruise to its seventh straight win in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Flashing the form that made him the 2022 MVP, Jaycee Marcelino posted 16 points, 6 steals, 5 rebounds and 3 steals for the Rice Vanguards, who are bidding to regain the national crown they won in 2022.
Will McAloney provided support with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, followed by Byron Villarias with 11 points plus 4 rebounds, and Jayvee Marcelino with 7 points and 8 assists.
The Rice Vanguards made 26 of 53 field goal attempts, while the Batang Kankaloo could only connect on 21 of 66 tries.
