ALL roads lead to Palayan City as defending champion Nueva Ecija begins its title defense against the visiting Pasay in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) today at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum.
Action kicks off at 8 p.m. with the Rice Vanguards, seeded as No. 2 after the elimination round, looking to hold the fort against the seventh-ranked Voyagers, with the help of their ever-passionate home crowd.
At 6 p.m., No. 3 Makati takes on No. 6 San Juan in the other quarterfinal pairing of the North Division.
But all eyes are on the Rice Vanguards, who are looking to make the most out of their home advantage in front of Novo Ecijanos after securing the second spot in the North Division with an impressive 23-5 record.
Last season, Nueva Ecija swept the regular season for the undisputed No. 1 seed and met little to no resistance in a magnificent playoff run to rise as MPBL national champion.
And though the Rice Vanguards will march into duel this time around as only the second-ranked squad against the rising powers of the North, they brim with motivation and confidence to still get the job done and retain the crown at no less than its majestic fields.
“…A lot of teams will build up. For me it’s good, for the competition at the MPBL but one thing is for sure, the boys will deliver for our province and for our people,” said team owner Bong Cuevas as Nueva Ecija looks to repeat on Pasay after a 88-79 win in the final regular season game.
“We’ll defend this crown and we’ll take it back to Nueva Ecija. It’s not going to be an easy road. It’s not going to be easy for us like last season but it’s the fight in us. I believe the boys will deliver.”
Head coach Jerson Cabiltes will carry Nueva Ecija’s fight along with the veteran core of Jonathan Uyloan, Michael Mabulac, Roi Sumang, Renz Palma, JR Taganas, Jay Collado, Pamboy Raymundo and Stephen Siruma.
No. 1 seed Bacoor fell short against No. 8 Iloilo, 89-86, as No. 4 Zamboanga drubbed No. 5 Quezon, 77-68, in the start of the South Division quarterfinals on Saturday night at the Strike Gymnasium in Cavite. — John Bryan Ulanday
