Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards

Professional basketball team in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards

2024 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards season
League| MPBL (2019–present)
FilBasket (2022)
PSL (2023–present)
Founded| 2019; 5 years ago (2019)
History| Nueva Ecija MiGuard
2019
Nueva Ecija ForestLake
2019
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
2019–present (MPBL)
Nueva Ecija Capitals
2022 (FilBasket)
2023–present (PSL)
Arena| Nueva Ecija Coliseum
Location| Nueva Ecija
Team colors|
Main sponsor| Palayan City Township
Puregold
Head coach| Don Dulay
Championships| MPBL: 1 (2022)
FilBasket: 1 (Summer 2022)
Conference titles| MPBL: 1 (2022)

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Nueva Ecija. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and play their home games at Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan.

The team began play as an expansion team for the 2019–20 MPBL season, though they would only begin using the Rice Vanguards moniker later on.[1] The team also plays in the Pilipinas Super League under the name Nueva Ecija Capitals. The team also competed in FilBasket as well as in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.

The Nueva Ecija franchise is the holder of the only regular season sweep in the MPBL, recording 21 wins with no losses during the 2022 MPBL season, where they would go on and win their first MPBL championship.

## History

[edit]

### 2019–2020: First MPBL season

[edit]

In May 2019, Nueva Ecija formally joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as an expansion team for the league's 2019–20 season.[2] Alvin Grey was the team's first head coach before being replaced by Charles Tiu mid-season.[3] Nueva Ecija finished 11th in the North with a 10–20 record.

### 2022–present: Championship contention

[edit]

In the lead-up to the 2022 season, Nueva Ecija took part in the 2021 Invitational. After sweeping Group C, the Rice Vanguards reached the finals against Basilan Jumbo Plastic, but lost due to Philip Manalang's championship-winning buzzer beater in overtime, thus settling for the runner-up spot. The team woud later take part in FilBasket's 2022 Summer Championship. Competing as the Nueva Ecija Capitals, they finished the elimination round with a 10–1 record and made the finals against the San Juan Knights as the series went into three games. The Capitals won the final game in overtime to clinch their first ever league championship, making way for a rivalry with the San Juan franchise.

#### Regular season sweep

[edit]

With additions such as Hesed Gabo, Will McAloney, and Michael Mabulac, together with their new head coach in Jerson Cabiltes, Nueva Ecija then dominated the 2022 MPBL season with the league's first-ever regular season sweep, winning all 21 games. Mabulac was declared an all-star together with Bobby Balucanag, while Gabo and McAloney were both part of the All-MPBL First Team that season. The Rice Vanguards then swept the first two rounds of the playoffs against Marikina and intraregional rivals Pampanga. A challenge then rose for the team in the North Division finals against the defending division champion San Juan Knights, as they would lose game 1 of the series. The Rice Vanguards fought back and won game 2 in overtime before ultimately defeating the Knights in game 3. In the 2022 finals, Nueva Ecija met the Marcelino-led Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines. The Rice Vanguards won the first two games at home but lost game 3 as the visiting team. The team then went on to win game 4 to bring Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon its first-ever MPBL championship. The Finals MVP was awarded to Byron Villarias.[4]

Despite Gabo moving to the Philippine Basketball Association, signing with the NLEX Road Warriors during the off-season, Nueva Ecija kept most of its key players for the 2023 season. The team continued to win in the regular season, starting with an 11–0 record, but would suffer its first regular season loss since 2020 against the Viernes-led Sarangani Marlins. Nueva Ecija still proved to be contenders in 2023, finishing 2nd with a 23–5 record. After eliminating Pasay in the first round, the Rice Vanguards once again met with the San Juan Knights. This time around, San Juan ended up sweeping the rematch, ending Nueva Ecija's repeat hopes.

During the 2023–24 MPBL off-season, the team took part in the Pilipinas Super League as part of its 2023–24 President's Cup, where they once again competed under the Capitals moniker. During which, Jerson Cabiltes parted ways with the franchise as he would later become the head coach of expansion side Pangasinan Heatwaves. Don Dulay, who won an MPBL title with the Davao Occidental Tigers, took on the head coaching job for the rest of the President's Cup and for the 2024 MPBL season.

## Rivalries

[edit]

### San Juan Knights

[edit]

Main article: Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–San Juan Knights rivalry

Both Nueva Ecija and the San Juan Knights have become constant contenders across the multiple leagues they have taken part in. It began in FilBasket when both teams met in the finals of the 2022 Summer Championship and later fought for North Division contention in the MPBL, with both teams meeting in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. Across all leagues, both teams have met each other twelve times.

## Home venues

[edit]

The Nueva Ecija franchise has always played their home games at Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan. The only season in which the team did not play at home was during their inaugural season.

Venue  | Location  | 2019–20 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

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Nueva Ecija Coliseum  | Palayan, Nueva Ecija | N | Y | Y | Y

## Current roster

[edit]

Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards roster

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Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From

|
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|

F | 1 | Uyloan, Jonathan | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  | 185 lb (84 kg)  | 1983–11–26  | Golden West
G | 4 | Costelo, Ryan | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)  |  |  | San Sebastian
G/F | 6 | Dagangon, Gab | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  |  | 1992–09–07  | UPHSD
F/C | 7 | Magbuhos, Vince | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  |  |  | Adamson
F | 8 | Celiz, Robby | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 217 lb (98 kg)  | 1988–09–07  | National-U
G | 10 | Arenas, Don-Don (HG)  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)  |  |  | Gloria Lacson
F/C | 12 | Bahio, JB | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  |  |  | San Beda
G | 13 | Mocon, Kenneth | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)  | 185 lb (84 kg)  | 1993–10–13  | San Beda
F/C | 14 | McAloney, Will (FF)  | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  |  | 1993–09–01  | San Carlos
F | 15 | Balucanag, Bobby (HG)  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  |  |  | San Sebastian
F | 17 | Duremdes, Andre | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  |  |  | UST
G | 18 | Wilson, John | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 185 lb (84 kg)  | 1987–01–18  | José Rizal
G/F | 19 | Calo, Emmanuel | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  |  | 1989–12–27  | Visayas
F/C | 23 | Collado, Jay | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  |  |  | LSB
G | 24 | Cullar, JC | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)  |  |  | St. Benilde
G/F | 25 | Ayaay, Jesper | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  |  |  | Lyceum
F | 26 | Robles, Billy | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  | 1992–05–30  | NIPSC
G | 27 | Bitoon, Chris | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)  |  |  | St. Clare
G | 51 | Villarias, Byron | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  | 172 lb (78 kg)  | 1988–02–25  | José Rizal
F | 77 | Derige, Clark (HG)  | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  |  | UE
G | –  | Daquioag, Ed | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 170 lb (77 kg)  | 1991–08–18  | UST
F | –  | Javillonar, Jeff | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  |  | 1993–01–01  | National-U
F | –  | Saldua, Chester | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  |  | 1994–05–19  | Philippine Christian

Head coach

* Don Dulay

Assistant coach(es)

* Rob Wainwright
* Matt Makalintal
* Arnold Oliveros

Team manager

* Ivan Cuevas

* * *

Legend

* (HG) Homegrown
*   * (FF) Filipino-foreigner
* (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
* (RS) Reserve player
*   *   *   *   * Injured

* * *

* Roster – via Genius Sports

Updated as of: June 26, 2024

### Head coaches

[edit]

#  | Name  | Term  | Ref.

|
|
|

1 | Eric Gascon | 2019 |
2 | Alvin Grey | 2019  |
3 | Charles Tiu | 2019–2021  |
4 | Carlo Tan | 2021 |
5 | Jerson Cabiltes | 2022–2023 |
6 | Don Dulay | 2024–present  |

## Notable players

[edit]

### Individual award winners

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MPBL finals Most Valuable Player

* Byron Villarias – 2022

All-MPBL First Team

* Will McAloney – 2022, 2023
* Hesed Gabo – 2022

|

### MPBL All-Star Day

[edit]

All-Star selections

* Jai Reyes – 2020
* Bobby Balucanag – 2022
* Michael Mabulac – 2022
* Will McAloney – 2023, 2024
* Roi Sumang – 2023
* Robby Celiz – 2024

All-Star Game head coaches

* Jerson Cabiltes – 2022

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### PBA players

[edit]

Ex-PBA players

* Jimbo Aquino
* Anthony Bringas
* JR Cawaling
* Robby Celiz
* Hesed Gabo
* Jerwin Gaco
* Michael Juico
* Michael Mabulac
* Will McAloney
* Renz Palma

* Pamboy Raymundo
* Jai Reyes
* Billy Robles
* Roi Sumang
* Byron Villarias
* John Wilson

|

Drafted to PBA

* Kemark Cariño – 13th overall, season 48

## Season-by-season records

[edit]

| League champions

|

| Division champions
| Qualified for playoffs
| Best regular season record

### Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

[edit]

Season  | Regular season  | Playoffs

|
|

Division  | Finish  | GP  | W  | L  | PCT  | GB  | Stage  | Results
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
2019–20
Lakan Season | North | 11th | 30 | 10 | 20 | .333 | 16 | Did not qualify
2022 | North | 1st | 21 | 21 | 0 | 1.000 | — | Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals
Division finals
National finals | won vs. Marikina, 2–0
won vs. Pampanga, 2–0
won vs. San Juan, 2–1
won vs. Zamboanga, 3–1
2023 | North | 2nd | 28 | 23 | 5 | .821 | 3 | Division quarterfinals
Division semifinals | won vs. Pasay, 2–0
lost vs. San Juan, 0–2
2024 | North | 3rd | 28 | 24 | 4 | .857 | 2 | Division quarterfinals | TBD vs. Pasay
All-time regular season record | 107 | 78 | 29 | .729 |  | 3 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record | 15 | 11 | 4 | .733 | 1 finals appearance
All-time overall record | 122 | 89 | 33 | .730 | 1 championship

### Pilipinas Super League

[edit]

Tournament  | Elimination round  | Playoffs

|
|

Finish  | GP  | W  | L  | PCT  | GB  | Stage  | Results
Nueva Ecija Capitals
2023–24
President's Cup | 3rd | 18 | 16 | 2 | .889 | 1 | First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals | won vs. Manila, 1–0
won vs. Davao Occidental, 1–1
won vs. San Juan, 2–0
lost vs. Quezon, 1–3
All-time elimination round record | 18 | 16 | 2 | .889 |  | 1 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | 1 finals appearances
All-time overall record | 27 | 21 | 6 | .778 | 0 championships

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Aquino, Malou (May 24, 2019). "NUEVA ECIJA MI GUARD HANDA NA SA MPBL". Pilipino Mirror. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
2. ^ Henson, Quinito (May 16, 2019). "MPBL ready to launch third battleground". PhilStar.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
3. ^ Terrado, Reuben (September 26, 2019). "Charles Tiu taking over as new Nueva Ecija coach in MPBL, says source". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
4. ^ Nasiad, Frederick M. (December 15, 2022). "Nueva Ecija claims MPBL crown". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 31, 2023.

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Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

2024 MPBL season

* Founder: Manny Pacquiao
* COO: Zaldy Realubit
* Commissioner: Kenneth Duremdes

North Division|

Abra Weavers
Bataan Risers
Bulacan Kuyas
Caloocan Batang Kankaloo
Manila Batang Sampaloc
Marikina Shoemasters
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
Pampanga Giant Lanterns
Pangasinan Heatwaves
Pasay Voyagers
Quezon City Toda Aksyon
Rizal Golden Coolers
San Juan Knights
Valenzuela Classic

South Division|

Bacolod City of Smiles
Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters
Bicolandia Oragons
Biñan Tatak Gel
Davao Occidental Tigers
Iloilo United Royals
Imus Agimat
Mindoro Tamaraws
Muntinlupa Cagers
Negros Muscovados
Parañaque Patriots
Quezon Huskers
Sarangani Marlins
South Cotabato Warriors
Zamboanga Master Sardines

History|

* Timeline
* former teams
* Seasons
* Records
* win–loss records

Annual events|

* Invitational
* All-Star Game
* Finals
* Champions

Awards|

* MVP
* Finals MVP
* All-Star MVP

Others|

* Venues

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Central Luzon

Basketball|

MPBL
Bataan Risers
Bulacan Kuyas
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
Pampanga Giant Lanterns

Football|

Philippines Football League
United City

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Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 2022 MPBL champions

* 0 Raymundo
* 1 Uyloan
* 3 Taganas
* 7 Gabo
* 10 Arenas
* 11 Derige
* 14 McAloney
* 18 Manalang
* 20 Siruma
* 23 Collado
* 27 Bitoon
* 28 Mabulac
* 29 Juico
* 51 Villarias (Finals MVP)
* 77 Palma

* Head coach: Cabiltes
* Assistant coaches: Chang
* Co

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
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*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[DOB]: Date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)