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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Nueva Ecija rips Ilagan Isabela

Nueva Ecija rips Ilagan Isabela

Published Aug 31, 2025 10:12 am

At A Glance

  • The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards led throughout and battered the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 89-65, on Saturday night, Aug. 30, to bounce back in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards led throughout and battered the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 89-65, on Saturday night, Aug. 30, to bounce back in the MPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Powered by Jammer Jamito, John Wilson and Jaycee Marcelino, Nueva Ecija cruised to its 23rd win against two losses and moved closer to pacesetter Abra Solid North (22-1) and separated from San Juan (22-2) in the North Division and overall standing of the 30-team, two-division tournament.
Jamito posted 19 points and 9 rebounds, Wilson tallied 18 points, laced by four triples, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; and Marcelino notched 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals to take the fight out of the Cowboys, who dropped to 13-13 but kept the eighth spot in the same division.
Robby Celiz supported with 8 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, and so did Will McAloney with 8 points and 5 rebounds as Nueva Ecija recovered from a 77-78 defeat to Quezon Province on August 23 at the same venue.
The Cowboys, hounded by an atrocious 2 of 25 shooting from beyond the arc, drew 13 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals from Arth Dela Cruz, 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists from Agem Miranda, and 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists from Mark Dyke.
Basilan Starhorse went full speed in the second half and routed Imus Grumpy Joe, 106-78, in the second game
The Portmasters extended their hot run to four and climbed to 14-11, moving ahead of Binan Tatak Gel (13-11) in the South Division.
Quezon Province paces the chase for playoff spots in the South with a 20-4 slate, followed by Batangas (17-8), Zamboanga (17-8), Rizal Province (15-8), Gensan (15-10) and Mindoro (13-10).
Omar Larupay poured in 23 points, 15 in the last two quarters, 16 rebounds and 3 assists for Basilan, which drew 17 points, 14 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals from Emman Calo.
Other Portmasters who delivered were Michael Alvarez with 16 points and 4 rebounds, Adi Santos with 11 points and 6 rebounds, Mario Barasi with 7 points and 2 rebounds, and Enzo Navarro with 6 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds.
Imus, which tumbled to 9-16, got 16 points from Mark Doligon, 15 from Jaypee Belencion and 13 from Jayvee Dela Cruz.
Wowie Escosio scored from under with a second left to lift Davao Occidental past Valenzuela City Magic, 84-83, in the opener and revive its playoff bid in the South.
Davao was ahead, 82-79, when Monje drilled in a triple and Jan Formento bunched four points, the last on a free throw with 6.3 seconds left. Monje, however, flubbed the second charity that allowed the Tigers to escape with their ninth win against 14 losses.
Davao is locked in a tight battle for the ninth and 10th spots with Muntinlupa (10-13), Cebu (10-16) and Sarangani (9-15).
Escosio notched 24 points and 6 rebounds to earn best player honors over homegrown Joseph Salubre, with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals; Harold Arboleda with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; and Jeff Comia with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
Valenzuela fell to 6-20, putting to waste Kobe Monje's 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, Jan Formento's 18 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, and Arvie Bringas' 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists.
The MPBL resumes on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila, with games pitting Abra against Muntinlupa at 4 p.m., Quezon Province against Mindoro at 6 p.m., and Quezon City against Paranaque at 8 p.m.
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