Nueva Ecija displayed its deep bench once again to beat San Juan, 84-68, and clinch the North division title of the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League 4th Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
With Will McAloney at the helm, the Rice Vanguards withstood the best the Knights could offer in the fourth period to clinch the decider and shut down their best-of-three duel at 2-1.
The Knights approached the massive Nueva Ecija crowd and conceded defeat with the spread already at 14 points, 82-68.
McAloney finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while John Bryon Villarias tallied 15 of his 19 points in the first half.
Other Rice Vanguards who delivered were Christopher Bitoon with nine points, six assists and three rebounds, Michael Mabulac with eight points and 11 rebounds, and Game 2 hero JR Taganas with seven points and four rebounds.
Nueva Ecija team owner Bong Cuevas received the championship trophy from MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
San Juan put up a tough stand in the first half, but eventually wilted under the constant bombardment of the Rice Vanguards, who have posted a 27-1 record thus far.
San Juan got 16 points from Orlan Wamar and 14 points each from Judel Fuentes and Dexter Maiquez.
The Knights were sharp in their free throw attempts in the first half, making all but one of 15, with Orlan Wamar going 7-of-7 and Dexter Maiquez 4-of-4, for a very high 93.3 percent clip. In contrast, the Rice Vanguards only made two of four charities in that span.
Villarias was the only Rice Vanguard in double figures with 15 points on a five of six performance from rainbow territory.
