Pepsi teams dominate Proas in masters

Pepsi’s “Taste of the New Generation” campaign seems to have taken hold of the old, as both Pepsi teams competing in the 2005 Masters Basketball League turned the tables on the two Proa squads they faced Friday and Saturday at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

Hoops heroes of yesteryears ascended to the Fina Sisu indoor facility over the weekend, as players from eight teams tried to rekindle their forms in four matches—two in the 35-and-over division and two in the 45-and-over.

In the first game Friday, Pepsi kicked off what turned out to be a very productive two days of basketball by beating Heinz & Dave Proa in the 35-and-over division, 91-85.

The Pacific Trading Co.-backed quintet got off to a slow start against the fleet-footed and sharp-shooting Proas falling behind by double digits in the first half before using their size and heft in the later goings to pull off the win.

The stratospheric frontline of Richard “Doc” Brostrom (26 points), Tony Raho (12), John Diaz (12), and Bruce Berline (11) proved too much for Proa as the team led by Tony Diaz (29) and Rufino Aguon (18) lost steam at the end.

In the second game, southpaw extraordinaire George Villasan scored the first 18 points of the ballgame for Legends II, including all 12 first quarter points, to lead his team to a 78-70 win over a depleted Old Aces crew in the 45-and-over division.

The game was nip and tuck from the opening jump ball until the final minutes, when Legends II executed with aplomb to nail the win over Old Aces, which were missing players participating in the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

Villasan wound up with 32 points to pace all scorers, while Jerry “Mutombo” Lopez added 23. Old Aces was led by Tony “Payton” Gabriel’s 22 points and Boy Garcia’s 12.

Saturday games got off to a big start when MBL dynasty Verizon slit the throats of Sabungeros in the 35-and-over age group, 82-68.

Verizon took the lead in the early goings of the game and wasn’t in anyway threatened as bull-strong Danny Bicera and high-flying Robert Gamboa turned back the hands of time, combining for 34 points to lead their team to victory.

In the second game, Bicera and Gamboa teamed up with local triathlete Manny Sitchon to give Pepsi another win over the Heinz & Dave Proa.

Unlike Friday’s game though, Pepsi’s 45-and-over triumph had to pass through the proverbial eye of the needle, as they had to rally in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, where they won 98-90.

With 39 second to go, Proa took back the lead, 86-84, on a 3-point play by center Poland Yamada.

After a number of blotched Pepsi attempts, the NMC-based team appeared ready to wrap up the win when Yamada got the rebound and dribbled to half court only to have the spheroid stripped clean by Alan Lebria, who gave the ball to Gamboa who converted on a tough leaner in the lane.

In the extra session, Bicera took over by scoring six of his game-high 36 points to power Pepsi to the win. Sitchon and Gamboa added 24 and 22 points in the win.

Aguon was spectacular in defeat, pumping in 29 points, which included eight hits from downtown. Yamada also chipped in 26 markers in the loss.

Results of Saturday’s third game between Mike Muna’s Legends and Boy Garcia’s Boys were still not available as of press time.

Friday
First Game

Pepsi 91 – Brostom 26, Raho 12, Diaz 12, Berline 11, Gomez 10, Warfield 7, Valencia 6, Tudela 3, Weaver 2, Yamada 2.

Proa 85 – Diaz 29, Aguon 18, Alegre 13, Lizo 12, Espinosa 6, Tamondong 4, Jinang 3.

Scoring by quarters: 17-28, 42-51, 71-64, 91-85.

Second Game

Legends II 78 – Villasan 32, Lopez 23, Miday 8, Takai 7, Garcia 5, Gerads 3.

Old Aces 70 – Gabriel 22, Garcia 12, Guerrero 10, Coldeen 8, Kani 7, Aldan 6, Flores 5.

Scoring by quarters: 12-12, 23-29, 48-49, 78-70.

Saturday
First Game

Verizon 82 – Bicera 17, Gamboa 17, Palacios 10, G. Cabrera 8, Pineda 8, Ocanada 8, Sablan 6, M. Cabrera 6, Salazar 2.

Sabungero 68 – Pickrill 20, Opone 18, Villegas 7, Peleno 6, Miday 5, Dela Torre 5.

Scoring by quarters: 21-16, 42-30, 57-52, 82-68.

Second Game

Pepsi 98 – Bicera 36, Sitchon 24, Gamboa 22, Norman 6, Sablan 6, Nepaial 2, Saiki 2.

Proa 90 – Aguon 29, Yamada 26, B. Alegre 15, MacDuff 14, Johnson 2, David 2, M. Algre 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-22, 35-52, 59-61, 86-86, 98-90, OT.