Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards are a Filipino professional basketball based in the province of Nueva Ecija. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of four active teams based in the Central Luzon region, playing their home games at Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan.
| Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | MPBL (2019–present) Filbasket (2022) Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 (formerly) |
| Founded | 2019 |
| History | Nueva Ecija MiGuard (2019) Nueva Ecija ForestLake (2019) Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (2019–2021, 2022–present) Nueva Ecija Capitals (2021–2022) |
| Arena | Nueva Ecija Coliseum |
| Location | Nueva Ecija |
| Team colors | |
| Head coach | Jerson Cabiltes |
| Championships | MPBL: 1 (2022) Filbasket: 1 (Summer 2022) |
| Conference titles | MPBL: 1 (2022) |
The team began play in the 2019–20 season as the Nueva Ecija MiGuard.[1] The team has also played in Filbasket under the name of Nueva Ecija Capitals, as well as the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3.
Nueva Ecija is currently the holder of the only undefeated regular season record in the league, recording 21 wins with no losses during the 2022 season.
History
In May 2019, Nueva Ecija formally joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), becoming the first major professional basketball team based in the province since the Nueva Ecija Patriots of the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).[2] During the middle part of 2019–20 MPBL season, the team tapped Charles Tiu as their head coach, replacing Alvin Grey.[3]
In 2022, the Rice Vanguards won their first MPBL championship after winning the 2022 MPBL Finals against Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines, 3–1.[4]
Current roster
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Head coaches
- Eric Gascon (2019)
- Alvin Grey (2019)
- Charles Tiu (2019–2021)
- Carlo Tan (2021–2022)
- Jerson Cabiltes (2022–present)
Notable players
| Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards notable players | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Tenure | Awards | All-Star |
| Jai Reyes | 2019–2020 | — | 1 (2020) | |
| Hesed Gabo | 2022 | 1x All-MPBL First Team (2022) | – | |
| Bobby Balucanag | 2022–present | — | 1 (2022) | |
| Michael Mabulac | 2022–present | — | 1 (2022) | |
| Will McAloney | 2022–present | 1x All-MPBL First Team (2022) | 1 (2023) | |
| Byron Villarias | 2022–present | 1x Finals MVP (2022) | – | |
| Roi Sumang | 2023–present | — | 1 (2023) | |
Season-by-season records
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
- Records from the 2023 MPBL season:
| Season | Team name | Elimination round | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Finish | W | L | PCT | Stage | Results | ||
| 2019–20 Lakan Cup | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | North | 11th/16 | 10 | 20 | .333 | Did not qualify | |
| 2022 Mumbaki Cup | 1st/11 | 21 | 0 | 1.000 | First Round 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 | 2nd/15 | 23 | 5 | .821 | First Round Division Semifinals | won vs. Pasay, 2–0 TBD vs. San Juan, 0–0 | ||
| Total elimination round | 54 | 25 | .684 | 2 playoff appearances | ||||
| Total playoffs | 11 | 2 | .846 | 1 Finals appearance | ||||
| Total franchise | 65 | 27 | .707 | 1 championship | ||||
Invitational records
| Season | Team name | Elimination round | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Finish | W | L | PCT | Stage | Results | ||
| 2021 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards | Group C | 1st/5 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals | won vs. Iloilo, 84–67 won vs. Imus, 82-76 lost vs. Basilan, 80–83 (OT) |
| 2023 | Group B | 1st/4 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Semifinals Finals | won vs. Sarangani, 112–89 lost vs. Zamboanga, 88–80 | |
| Total elimination round | 7 | 0 | 1.000 | 2 playoff appearances | ||||
| Total playoffs | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2 Finals appearances | ||||
| Total franchise | 10 | 2 | .833 | 0 championships | ||||
References
- Aquino, Malou (May 24, 2019). "NUEVA ECIJA MI GUARD HANDA NA SA MPBL". Pilipino Mirror. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- Henson, Quinito (May 16, 2019). "MPBL ready to launch third battleground". PhilStar.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- 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.
- Nasiad, Frederick M. (December 15, 2022). "Nueva Ecija claims MPBL crown". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
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