MPBL: Nueva Ecija gains solo lead; Bulacan, Imus subdue rivals
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards trounced the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 87-70, to seize the solo lead in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City Friday, March 31.
*John Villarias leads Nueva Ecija with a 12-point effort including back-to-back triples in the crunch.*
Trailing 36-33, defending champion Nueva Ecija unleashed 10 points highlighted by back-to-back triples from John Bryan Villarias to regain the 43-36 upperhand en route to its fourth straight win. Will McAloney bannered Nueva Ecija’s offense with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Villarias added 12 points, four rebounds and two steals. Chris Bitoon and Bobby Balucanag chipped in nine points apiece. Rizal, which was hounded by poor field goal shooting after posting a 25-of-63 clip, absorbed its fourth straight defeat to become the first time to drop a homecourt assignment. Meanwhile, the Bulacan Kuyas thwarted the Makati OKBet Kings, 76-72, while the Imus SV Squad drubbed the Quezon City Gaz N Go, 79-58. Levi Dela Cruz scored 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kentoy Segura added 14 points for Bulacan, which improved to 4-1. Imus, for its part, leaned on the double-double effort of Jaymar Gimpayan to improve to 2-1. Gimpayan posted 15 points and 20 rebounds.
*John Villarias leads Nueva Ecija with a 12-point effort including back-to-back triples in the crunch.*
Trailing 36-33, defending champion Nueva Ecija unleashed 10 points highlighted by back-to-back triples from John Bryan Villarias to regain the 43-36 upperhand en route to its fourth straight win. Will McAloney bannered Nueva Ecija’s offense with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Villarias added 12 points, four rebounds and two steals. Chris Bitoon and Bobby Balucanag chipped in nine points apiece. Rizal, which was hounded by poor field goal shooting after posting a 25-of-63 clip, absorbed its fourth straight defeat to become the first time to drop a homecourt assignment. Meanwhile, the Bulacan Kuyas thwarted the Makati OKBet Kings, 76-72, while the Imus SV Squad drubbed the Quezon City Gaz N Go, 79-58. Levi Dela Cruz scored 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kentoy Segura added 14 points for Bulacan, which improved to 4-1. Imus, for its part, leaned on the double-double effort of Jaymar Gimpayan to improve to 2-1. Gimpayan posted 15 points and 20 rebounds.