Little-general Diego Dario drilled in a dagger triple with 6.4 seconds left as the Quezon Huskers stunned the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, 78-77, on Saturday in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The crafty 5-foot-8 playmaker’s ninth triple of the night completed the Huskers’ climb from an 18-point hole, 30-12, and frustrated the Rice Vanguards, who never trailed until Diego’s killer jumper.
Quezon Province, the reigning South Division titlist, also stunned San Juan, 85-83, another North Division powerhouse, on August 16, raising its record to 19-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Nueva Ecija skidded to 22-2, yielding the overall top spot to Abra Solid North (22-1), but still pacing San Juan (21-2).
In the other games, the Cebu Greats sustained their climb with a 97-93 victory over Valenzuela Magic, while John Felix Corpuz avoided a traveling violation to deliver the killer three as Pasig City nipped Imus Braderhood, 82-81, in overtime in the opener.
Diego, a former national under-17 player, posted 29 points on a remarkable 9 of 11 (81.8 percent) shooting from afar and sinking his lone 2-pointer for 83.3 percent and 3 assists to run away with best player honors, over Vince Magbuhos, who tallied 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, and Judel Fuentes with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Powered by Jan Jamon and Cebuano talents Jun Manzo, Reeve Ugsang and Paul Desiderio, Cebu rallied from a 48-59 deficit to improve to 10-15 and boost its playoff chances in the South Division, where it sits at No. 10.
Jamon, from Emilo Aguinaldo College and Siniloan, Laguna, finished with 22 points and 3 rebounds, Manzo 21 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, Ugsang 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists, and Desiderio 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
