Robby Celiz scored on a follow-up with 2.3 seconds left to complete Nueva Ecija’s 84-83 escape against Zamboanga SiKat on Thursday, June 12, in Manny Pacquiao presents 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Trailing, 78-83, the Rice Vanguards persevered behind Celiz’s two free throws and Will McAloney’s strong drive with 6.5 ticks left to force a thriller.
McAloney missed the accompanying free throw, but got the rebound for another drive that got blocked. Celiz, however, skied for the rebound and made the putback that extended pacesetter Nueva Ecija’s winning run to 15 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The 6-foot-5 McAloney finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to clinch best player honors over his fellow mythical team member Celiz, who tallied 11 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered for Coach Don Dulay were Jaycee Marcelino with 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Jayvee Marcelino with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, and John Villarias with 12 points, all from triples.
“They gave us a tough challenge, good thing we’re able to execute. But it showed we still have a lot of weaknesses,” said Dulay, tasked to return the national crown to Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL champion.
The Zamboanguenos were pulled down to 13-3 by their poor free-throw shooting, converting only one of five attempts in the last two minutes.
Zamboanga got 18 points, 3 assists and 3 steals from Ichie Altamirano, 17 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds from Roi Sumang, 16 points and 5 rebounds from Reggz Gabat, and 7 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists from James Paul Una.
Altamirano and Sumang drilled in back-to-back triples each against one by John Wilson to push Zamboanga ahead, 68-64, with 7 minutes and 42 seconds to go.
Batangas City Tanduay Rum dumped undermanned Cebu, 131-65, in the second game to improve its record to 8-7 in the chase for playoff spots.
Philip Paniamogan notched a career-high 46 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to power the Rum Masters, who drew 20 points and 6 rebounds from Dawn Ochea, 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists from Ced Ablaza, and 11 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds from MJ Dela Virgen.
Fielding only six players, Cebu suffered its fourth straight defeat and tumbled to 4-11 despite Dennis Santos’ 22 points and 8 rebounds, Ladis Lepalam’s 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, and John Paul Martinez’s 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Quezon City Galeries Taipan banked on Ry Dela Rosa to stun Bataan, 95-88, in the opener and climb to 4-11.
Dela Rosa, son of former pro Romy Dela Rosa and younger brother of Magnolia player Rome Dela Rosa, tallied 20 points, laced with five triples, and 3 rebounds to clinch best player honors over Dante Bernabe with 15 points, 15 rebounds and 2 assists, and Franz Diaz with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.
Nino Ibanez contributed 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jayson Puray added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Taipans, who snapped a four-game slide.
The Bataan Risers plunged to 6-11 despite Dom Vera’s 20 points, spiked by four triples, and 3 rebounds, and Yvez Sazon’s 19 points, including five triples, and 8 rebounds.
Bataan also drew 12 points and 8 assists from Hubert Cani, 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists from Carl Bringas, and 10 points, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds from Robbi Darang.
The MPBL returns to the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday with games pitting Imus against Paranaque at 4 p.m., San Juan against Muntinlupa at 6 p.m., and host Abra against Pangasinan at 8 p.m.
