Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–Pampanga Giant Lanterns rivalry

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Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards–Pampanga Giant Lanterns rivalry
Teams
  • Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
  • Pampanga Giant Lanterns
First meetingJanuary 9, 2020
Pampanga 80, Nueva Ecija 75
Latest meetingJune 6, 2025
Nueva Ecija 82, Pampanga 75
Statistics
Meetings total9
All-time series5–4 (Pampanga)
Longest win streakPampanga W4
Current win streakPampanga W4
Postseason history

Since the start of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's (MPBL) professional era, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards and Pampanga Giant Lanterns have become two of the most successful teams in the regional league. Since 2022, the two Central Luzon-based teams have been consistent contenders in not just the North Division, but also the league in general. As of 2024, they have won every North Division championship and league championship in the professional era.

Contents

The two teams met in the playoffs twice, both sweeps, with Nueva Ecija winning in 2022 and Pampanga winning in 2024. Pampanga currently lead the all-time series, 5–4.

History

2022: Nueva Ecija sweeps the season series

The first meeting between both teams in the professional era was on September 23, 2022 at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan. Hesed Gabo and Michael Mabulac combined for 33 points as the Rice Vanguards defeated Archie Concepcion and the Giant Lanterns for their antepenultimate win of its regular season sweep. [1] The first playoff meeting between the two teams then occurred on November 7 during the 2022 MPBL North Division semifinals. The Nueva Ecija won that game and later swept the series on November 11, completing a 3–0 season sweep against Pampanga. [2] Nueva Ecija then went on to defeat the San Juan Knights in the division finals before clinching the championship against the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines in the national finals. [3] [4]

2023–2024: Baltazar arrives in San Fernando, Giant Lanterns shift the series

The additions of Justine Baltazar and Encho Serrano to the Pampanga roster brought in a new contender to the North Division for the 2023 season. [5] On July 1, 2023, Pampanga earned their first victory against Nueva Ecija since 2020 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The following season, the two teams faced off in the playoffs for the second time. This time around, it was Pampanga that survived, recording a series sweep of their own against Nueva Ecija. Both playoff games were separated by three points, the latter of which went to overtime. [6] Pampanga would eventually accomplish back-to-back championships after defeating San Juan in the division finals and the Quezon Huskers in the national finals. [7] [8]

2025–present: Baltazar departs, Marcelinos move to Palayan

The 2025 season saw notable changes in both teams' rosters. Most notably, the departure of Baltazar from Pampanga to join the Converge FiberXers in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and the arrival of the Marcelino twins, Jaycee and Jayvee, from Zamboanga to Nueva Ecija, joining their 2022 finals rivals. [9]

Annual finishes

NOTE: Preseason games are not included.
SeasonNueva Ecija Rice VanguardsPampanga Giant LanternsSeries
WLPCTPlayoff finishWLPCTPlayoff finish
2019–20 1020.333Did not qualify219.700Lost division semifinalsPAM 1–0
2022 2101.000Won national finals147.667Lost division semifinalsNE 3–0
2023 235.821Lost division semifinals262.929Won national finalsPAM 1–0
2024 244.857Lost division semifinals262.929Won national finalsPAM 3–0

Game summaries

Legend
Nueva Ecija win
Pampanga win
Bold indicates home team
TypeDateWinning teamScoreLosing teamLocationRecap
Regular seasonJanuary 9, 2020Pampanga81–75Nueva Ecija AUF Sports and Cultural Center Recap
September 23, 2022Nueva Ecija80–74PampangaNueva Ecija Coliseum Recap
PlayoffsNovember 7, 2022Nueva Ecija104–89PampangaNueva Ecija Coliseum Recap
November 11, 2022Nueva Ecija89–84Pampanga Filoil EcoOil Centre Recap
Regular seasonJuly 1, 2023Pampanga76–64Nueva Ecija Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center Recap
June 29, 2024Pampanga91–85Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija Coliseum Recap
PlayoffsOctober 26, 2024Pampanga76–73Nueva EcijaFiloil EcoOil Centre Recap
October 30, 2024Pampanga83–80Nueva EcijaBren Z. Guiao Convention Center Recap
Regular seasonJune 6, 2025Nueva Ecija82–75PampangaBren Z. Guiao Convention Center Recap

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nueva Ecija thwarts Pampanga". Journalnews. September 25, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ "MPBL: Nueva Ecija, San Juan forge North Finals showdown". Tiebreaker Times. November 12, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Nueva Ecija clinches MPBL North division crown". Rappler. December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Nueva Ecija finishes off Zamboanga in Game 4 to lift MPBL trophy". spin.ph. December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ Li, Matthew (May 23, 2023). "Encho Serrano leaves PBA's Phoenix, set to sign with MPBL's Pampanga". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Pampanga nips Nueva Ecija in OT, meets San Juan in MPBL North finals". Philstar.com. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pampanga sweeps San Juan, advances to MPBL Nationals with Dubai showdown awaiting". Tiebreaker Times. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Pampanga sweeps Quezon to claim back-to-back MPBL championships". spin.ph. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Vic Manuel lives up to hype in Pangasinan's triumphant MPBL debut". Spin.ph. March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
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