Nueva Ecija Capital shine in PSL President’s Cup

NUEVA Ecija’s winning tradition continues from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) to  the Pilipinas Super League (PSL).

The Rice Vanguards  of  MPBL are now known as the Capitals in the PSL, but Nueva Ecija is still the same – a top-tier team in the North.

In the PSL, the Capitals rode on the hot hands of Michael Juico and Michael Mabulac to roll back Alpha Omega Kings, 81-77, and  notch their  second straight win  before a highly-appreciative performance at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Juico and Mabulac, two of the team’s more dependable scorers, stood at the helm of the victory of Nueva Ecija of businessman-sportsman Bong Cuevas and coach Jerson Cabiltes.

Juico finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting,  while Mabulac added a near triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in just 24 minutes of play.

Five other players provided ample scoring production for the Capitals with Billy Ray Robles and Jay Collado adding nine points each,  Jonathan Uyloan contributing  eight points and three assists and Emmanuel Calo and Roi Sumang chipping in seven points  each.

Nat Cosejo, Kriss Kelly Gurtiza, Kalen Doromal, Kris Harvey Pagsanjan, Byron Villarias, and Bobby Balucanag also joined the scoring parade for the Capitals.

It was the second straight win for Nueva Ecija, which debuted with a masterful  109-67 victory over JT Taipan Toda Aksyon Bulacan at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan last Saturday, Nov.25.

Mark Doligon led the losing effort of Omega Kings with 21 points and five rebounds in 34 minutes of action, followed by Andrian Celada with 17 points, Warlo Batac with 13 and Archie Salo with 10.

The scores:

Nueva Ecija Capitals (81) – Juico 13, Mabulac 10, Robles 9, Collado 9, Uyloan 8, Calo 7, Sumang 7, Cosejo 6, Gurtiza 4, Doromal 2, Pagsanjan 2, Villarias 2, Balucanag 2, Robin 0, Maguliano 0.

Alpha Omega Kings (77) – Doligon 21, Celada 17, Batac 13, Salo 10, Gabriel 9, Callano 4, Cinco 3, Matias 0, Estoce 0, Sumampong 0, Salamat 0.

Quarterscores: 19-20, 40-41, 63-56, 81-77.