Nueva Ecija, Basilan to clash in MPBL Invitational finals

From a pool of 22 teams, only two are remaining to battle for the title of the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Invitational tournament.

The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards will face the Basilan - Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot in the finals slated Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Nueva Ecija reached the finals after dispatching Imus-Buracai de Laiya, 82-76, on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Basilan advanced after defeating Pasig-Sta. Lucia, 77-72.

Nueva Ecija and Basilan will face off at 8:30pm tonight, while  Pasig and Imus will battle for third place at 1pm this afternoon.

The grand winner of the tournament will win P2 million.

The league on Wednesday also named its Most Valuable Player and Mythical Five.

Nueva Ecija's Michael Mabulac was named tournament MVP after averaging 13.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists during the pool phase of the competition. Mabulac bested Bicol-LCC's Mac Tallo, who listed 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.

Joining Mabulac and Tallo in the Mythical Five All-MPBL team are Imus-Buracai De Laiya's Adi Santos (12.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists), Pasig-Sta. Lucia's Fran Yu (11.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds), and Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot's Michael Juico (19.0 points, 3.8 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals). Marikina's Ato Ular was named Defensive Player of the Tournament after averaging 10.5 defensive rebounds per game. — LA, GMA News