Nueva Ecija subdued Pasay, 81-72, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Game 1 of their quarterfinal playoff in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the jampacked Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Spearheaded by Robby Celiz, the Rice Vanguards led as far as 80-64 before cruising to the victory that put them on the verge of clinching a semifinal slot in the North Division.

Celiz posted 23 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks to earn the Daily Fantasy best player honors over JB Bahio, Emman Calo and JC Cullar.

The 6-foot-5 Bahio tallied 11 points plus 5 rebounds, Cullar 10 points plus 5 assists and Calo 10 points, all in the quarter where he scored the Rice Vanguards' last five points.

The Rice Vanguards, being coached by Don Dulay, avenged a stingy 65-64 defeat to the Pasay Voyagers in the round-robin elimination phase and can cut short the best-of-three series at their homecourt-Nueva Ecija Coliseum--on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Mer Jesper Ayaay with 7  points and Will MCAloney and John Wilson with six points each.

Pasay got a game-high 24 points from Laurenz Victoria, 16 points from Jasper Salenga and 9 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists from Warren Bonifacio.

The MPBL Playoffs continue on Thursday at the Batangas City Coliseum with games pitting Binan against South Cotabato at 6 p.m. and Davao against Batangas at 8 p.m.