THE defending champions Rice Vanguards are going home to Nueva Ecija armed with a sweet sweep of Pasay.
With heady playmaker Chris Bitoon showing the way, the No. 2 Rice Vanguards turned back the seventh-ranked Voyagers 71-62 last Monday night in Game 2 of their North division best-of-3 quarterfinals duel in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Bitoon fired 16 points for the Bong Cuevas-owned squad, which scored a fitting follow up to an 85-81 win in the series opener last week.
Skipper Michael Juico added nine markers, while former PBA players Roi Sumang and Byron Villarias also combined for 16 as Nueva Ecija forged a best-of-3 semifinals showdown with San Juan.
The Knights outlasted Makati 95-92 in double overtime and likewise completed a 2-0 shutout of its foe in their Last Eight series.
Rice Vanguards coach Jerson Cabiltes gave his wards plaudits for their resolve in the highly physical tiff.
“From the start, we expected that it was going to be physical. I even reminded the boys to play hard and physical, but not dirty,” Cabiltes said. “It was really a physical game. It was a low scoring ball game.
“The defense was more intense compared to eliminations, ganyan naman lagi sa playoffs. Both teams will play physical and tough defense,” he added.
The multi-titled Cabiltes expects nothing less as Nueva Ecija seeks a title repeat.
“Iyong team namin sanay na sa physicality. We’ve been through last year’s playoffs and championship na talagang physical din and then even sa other leagues ganoon rin naman,” Cabiltes said.
