Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards logo
LeagueMPBL (2019–present)
FilBasket (2022)
PSL (2023–present)
Founded2019 (2019)
HistoryMPBL:
Nueva Ecija MiGuard (2019)
Nueva Ecija ForestLake (2019)
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
(2019–present)
PSL:
Nueva Ecija Capitals (2023–present)
FilBasket:
Nueva Ecija Capitals (2022)
ArenaNueva Ecija Coliseum
LocationNueva Ecija
Team colors     
Head coachJerson Cabiltes
ChampionshipsMPBL: 1 (2022)
FilBasket: 1 (Summer 2022)
Conference titlesMPBL: 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 four 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.

Nueva Ecija is currently the holder of the only undefeated regular season record in the MPBL, recording 21 wins with no losses during the 2022 MPBL season.

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Founding and first season

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.

North Division contention and first championship

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. With additions such as Hesed Gabo, Will McAloney, and Michael Mabulac, together with their new head coach in Jerson Cabiltes, Nueva Ecija dominated the 2022 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, ended Nueva Ecija's repeat hopes.

Other leagues

Nueva Ecija also took part in other leagues under the name Nueva Ecija Capitals. In 2022, the Capitals took part in FilBasket's 2022 Summer Championship, finishing with a 10–1 record. The team made the finals against the San Juan Knights but lost in three games.

During the 2023–24 MPBL off-season, the Capitals took part in the Pilipinas Super League as part of its 2023–24 President's Cup.

Season-by-season records

This is a list of seasons completed by Nueva Ecija. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning percentage

SeasonGPWLPCTFinishPlayoffs
2019–20301020.33311th, SouthDid not qualify
2022212101.0001st, NorthMPBL champion, 3–1 (Zamboanga)
202328235.8212nd, NorthLost in Division Semifinals, 0–2 (San Juan)

Current roster

Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 0 Philippines Raymundo, Pamboy 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1989–05–30 San Sebastian
G 1 Philippines Uyloan, Jonathan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1983–11–26 Golden West
F 3 Philippines Taganas, Jay-R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1987–09–01 San Beda
G 9 Philippines Pagsanjan, Harvey 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1999–01–02 Emilio Aguinaldo
F 10 Philippines Arenas, John
F 11 Philippines Derige, Clark 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UE
F 14 Philippines McAloney, Will 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1993–09–01 San Carlos
F 17 Philippines Catacutan, Orin UE
G 18 Philippines Manalang, Philip 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 1997–03–01 UE
G 20 Philippines Siruma, Stephen 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Philippine Christian
C 23 Philippines Collado, Jay 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) LSB
G 24 Philippines Fontanilla, Joshua 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UST
G 27 Philippines Bitoon, Chris 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) St. Clare
F 28 Philippines Mabulac, Michael 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1991–10–31 José Rizal
G 29 Philippines Juico, Michael 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1989–09–24 San Sebastian
G 30 Philippines Guinitiran, Rich 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Centro Escolar
G 38 Philippines Sumang, Roi 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1990–12–12 UE
G 51 Philippines Villarias, Byron 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 1988–02–25 José Rizal
G 77 Philippines Palma, Renz 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1993–01–03 UE
Head coach
  • Philippines Jerson Cabiltes
Assistant coach(es)
  • Philippines Noy Catalan
  • Philippines Arnold Oliveros
Team manager
  • Philippines Ivan Cuevas
Legend
  • (EP) Ex-PBA
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • Injured Injured

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 Reyes2019–2020—1 (2020)
Hesed Gabo20221x All-MPBL First Team (2022)–
Bobby Balucanag2022–present—1 (2022)
Michael Mabulac2022–present—1 (2022)
Will McAloney2022–present2x All-MPBL First Team (2022, 2023)1 (2023)
Byron Villarias2022–present1x Finals MVP (2022)–
Roi Sumang2023–present—1 (2023)

References

  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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