Proas bounce back, Pepsi rallies for win

The Heinz and David Proas rebounded from their sorry losses last week, while Pepsi came back from several double-digit deficits to beat Sabungero in the continuation of the 2005 Masters Basketball League over the weekend at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

In the first game Friday, Proa received steady contributions from its old reliables—Poland Yamada, Ray MacDuff, and Rufino Aguon—as the NMC-based squad triumphed over Legends II, 95-74, in the 45-and-over division.

After leading by just three after the first quarter, inside specialist Yamada and medium-range shooter MacDuff worked their magic on the floor and helped Proa to a healthy 43-32 spread at the half.

Aguon then had a field day together with new recruit Joel Johnson in the second half, as Proa increased its lead to 70-52 after three quarters before coasting to the 21-point victory at the end.

Yamada and MacDuff topscored for Proa with 18 points apiece, while Aguon and Johnson chipped in 16 and 14 points, respectively.

George Villasan paced Legends II with 14 points, while three others added 10 points or more.

Proa’s 35-and-over team took a cue from their “kuyas” and proceeded to rout Diamond Fixers, 110-82, in the second game.

The Heinz & David campaign bandwagon went on full throttle right from the get-go, as speedster Tony Diaz and Robert “Onyok” Tamondong helped Proa to double up Diamond Fixers, 30-15, after the opening quarter.

Proa continued to apply the pressure in the second quarter, as Diaz joined hands with good pal Rick Alegre as the two poured on the points to the utter frustration of Diamond Fixers playing coach Boy Garcia, who went down 27-48, at the break.

Raymond Tolentino was in his lonesome trying to rally back Diamond Fixers in the third, but to no avail as Proa continued to dominate and led 75-48 heading into the final 10 minutes of the ballgame.

The fourth was reduced to garbage time as both team emptied their benches.

Diaz led all scorers with 22 points, while Tamondong and Alegre added 19 markers each. Topscoring for Diamond Fixers was Tolentino with 15 and Martin Moreno with 12.

On Saturday’s second MBL match, former NCAA Division III player Richard “Doc” Brostrom had a vintage performance and brilliantly quarterbacked Pepsi to a come-from-behind 81-74 victory over Sabungero in another 35-and-over game.

Down by as much 18 and 22 points at one time in the second and third quarters, Brostrom joined forces with hulking John Diaz and stringy forward Roger Valencia in a searing late-game charge that is expected to haunt Sabungero for weeks and months on end.

Brostrom led the way with 29 points, while Diaz and Valencia added 24 and 16 points. Ed Palma was the highpoint man with 29 for Sabungero, which abandoned a run-and-gun game early on in lieu of a slow break that ultimately led to their downfall.

The first game between Pepsi and Old Aces’ 45-and-over teams was defaulted in favor of the former, while scores for the third game between Natibu and Verizon were not available as of press time.

Friday
First Game

Proa 95 – Yamada 18, MacDuff 18, Aguon 16, Johnson 14, M. Alegre 11, B. Alegre 10, Rallos 6, Habier 2.

Legends II 74 – Villasan 14, Demapan 11, Basa 10, Miday 10, Lopez 8, Baitrian 8, Tiples 7, Takai 6.

Scoring by quarters: 23-20, 43-32, 70-52, 95-74.

Referees: Abner Venus and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

Proa 110 – Ton. Diaz 22, Tamondong 19, Alegre 19, Espinosa 16, Alexander 10, Aguon 9, Lizo 6, MacDuff 5, Tom Diaz 4.

Diamond Fixers 82 – Tolentino 15, Montano 12, Moreno 10, Poquiz 10, Galag 8, Villaluz 6, Villanueva 6, Dayrit 6, Quemado 5, Garcia 4.

Scoring by quarters: 30-15, 48-27, 75-48, 110-82.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Saturday

Pepsi 81 – Brostrom 29, Diaz 24, Valencia 16, Berline 8, Cepeda 2, Nepaial 2,

Sabungero 74 – Palma 27, Opone 15, Peleno 8, Pe 7, Miday 6, Malasarte 5, Ocampo 4, Dela Torre 2,

Scoring by quarters: 15-15, 32-42, 57-62, 81-74.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.