[2] First-seeded Nueva Ecija (21–0) held homecourt advantage for the series, having a better record than Zamboanga (18–3).
The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards finished the 2021 MPBL Invitational as runner-up after being defeated by the Basilan Peace Riders on a championship-winning basket in overtime.
In the first two rounds of the playoffs, The Rice Vanguards easily won against the Marikina Shoemasters and the Pampanga Giant Lanterns both in two games each.
They easily defeated the Muntinlupa Cagers in the first round and then forced a Game 3 against the Bacolod Bingo Plus in the division semifinals.
In the division finals, they faced the 2018 MPBL champion Batangas City Embassy Chill, where they lost the first game, but forced Game 3 and won, to claim the South Division title and bring Zamboanga to their first finals appearance.