At A Glance
- The host team trailed for the most part of the contest but managed to finally get its rhythm going when it unloaded what turned out to be a deciding 15-2 run to open the final frame.
PALAYAN CITY — The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards grounded the Pasay Voyagers, 88-79, as the defending champions put a strong closeout to the regular season of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum on Thursday, Sept. 28, here.
The host team trailed for the most part of the contest but managed to finally get its rhythm going when it unloaded what turned out to be a deciding 15-2 run to open the final frame.
Down by only one, 62-63, heading into the payoff period, Pamboy Raymundo opened the scoring with a triple, triggering the massive uprising from Nueva Ecija after trailing by double figures early on.
Baskets from Harvey Pagsanjan off Pasay turnovers and a booming triple from Jay Collado, which sent the jam-packed venue in frenzy, established a 74-65 lead – an advantage Nueva Ecija never let go up until the final horn.
Jonathan Uyloan, who kept Nueva Ecija afloat in the first three quarters before also nailing crucial baskets down the stretch to keep Pasay at bay, finished with a game-high 18 points.
He was the lone double-digit scorer for the Rice Vanguards but it was still a balanced outing for the wards of head coach Jerson Cabiltes after five other players contributed at least eight points.
“Defense namin we forced a lot of turnovers during the run so yun yung naging gap namin during dun sa stretch ng fourth quarter,” Cabites whose wards also shrugged off some physical encounters with the Voyagers.
“It's setting the tone eh. Both sides are setting the tone for the playoffs. It's just gonna be ready for war,” he added as Nueva Ecija finished at the second spot of the North division standings with a 23-5 record.