Rice vanguards opted to give a time off to Gomez de Liaño after enduring a right ankle sprain during the Leg one against Bacolod last Wednesday.

The six-foot-one averaged 7.5 points per game played. However, ruled out in the remaining five minutes of the preliminaries as well as the playoffs after landing on Bacolod Big man Chris Lalata’s foot.

With his injury keeping him out of the game, Tonino Gonzaga will take his post instead.

Nueva Ecija lost Gomez De Liano in their last assignment and Mac Sebellina got rejected as well in the group stages. Still, luck is in Rice Vanguards’ favor after advancing to semifinals where they play opposing undefeated victor of Leg one Zamboanga City-Family’s Brand Sardines, 21-19.

“We just wanted to win. We just wanted to show we’re still going to fight so you even saw Jai [Reyes] driving one against two,” Gab Banal mentioned when asked about their game shown in the first leg.

Rice vanguards is grouped with sister team Palayan City Capitals and rebound-seeking Saranggani Marlins in Pool A on the second leg. Yet again, the squad needs to try harder to face the next challenges.

Zamboanga City put up a splendid performance where they went unconquered in the first leg. Family’s Brand Sardines players Cebuano Leonard Santillan, Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, and Troy Rike led the 7-0 run as the group seized Php 100,000 cash prize.

A similar prize will be the reward in Leg two, which will be aired at one in the afternoon on BEAM TV Ch. 31 and streamed live on Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Facebook and FIBA 3×3 YouTube.

To continue the winning streak, Munzon and the troop will first have to deal with Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors and Petra Cement-Roxas ZN in Pool B.

Ruling the Pool C runner-up finish Butuan along with Bicol-Paxful 3×3 Pro and Zamboanga Peninsula Valientes MLV. While in Pool D is Polac is out in front with Bacolod-Master Sardines and Pagadian Rocky Sports.

The top two of each group will move forward to the quarterfinals. After the selection, knockout bouts will conclude with the champion earning a Php 100,000 cash prize. While Php 30,000 and Php 20,000 for second and third, respectively.