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Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
2024 Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards season
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards logo
LeagueMPBL (2019–present)
FilBasket (2022)
PSL (2023–present)
Founded2019; 5 years ago (2019)
HistoryNueva Ecija MiGuard
2019
Nueva Ecija ForestLake
2019
Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
2019–present (MPBL)
Nueva Ecija Capitals
2022 (FilBasket)
2023–present (PSL)
ArenaNueva Ecija Coliseum
LocationNueva Ecija
Team colors     
Main sponsorPalayan City Township
Puregold
Head coachDon Dulay
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 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

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2019–2020: First MPBL season

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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

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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

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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

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San Juan Knights

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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

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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
Nueva Ecija Coliseum Palayan, Nueva Ecija Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY

Current roster

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Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
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
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • Ivan Cuevas
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured
Updated as of: June 26, 2024

Head coaches

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# 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

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Individual award winners

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MPBL All-Star Day

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PBA players

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Season-by-season records

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League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

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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
Division semifinals		 won vs. Pasay, 2–0
lost vs. Pampanga, 0–2
All-time regular season record 107 78 29 .729 3 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 19 13 6 .684 1 finals appearance
All-time overall record 126 91 35 .722 1 championship

Pilipinas Super League

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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

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  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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