Pepsi are masters of 45-and-over

The Pepsi cagers began the match with their game faces on, dominated for 40 minutes, and achieved their goal by claiming the coveted championship of the 45-and-over Masters Basketball League with an 87-67 victory over the Old Aces at the Northern Marianas College.

“When I put this team together, I looked for us to gun for the top and here we are. We made it,” said a happy Andy Nepaial, who served as a player-coach for the squad.

Pepsi certainly looked sharp in the early goings as they quickly drove the Old Aces into a hole by controlling the first quarter for a 24-14 advantage. Taking charge for the squad were Danny Bicera, Manny Sitchon, and Nomar Gamboa, who combined to account for all of Pepsi’s points.

Bicera continued to have the hot hand and scored 12 of Pepsi’s first 16 points in the second quarter, which was also controlled by Pepsi. Guard Tony Gabriel tried to keep his Old Aces crew from falling too far behind by following up an eight-point first quarter performance with another nine points, but his 17 points in the half was not able to do much damage as Pepsi took a 46-31 lead heading into the break.

Baskets by Gabriel, Boy Garcia, and Tony Rogolifoi brought the Old Aces to within 12 points midway through the third period, but that was as close as they got as Pepsi got back to its dominating ways and closed the period with a strong run fueled by the play of Gamboa.

Pepsi held a 17-point cushion with just 10 minutes left in the ballgame.

Garcia fouled out early in the fourth, Scot Norman and Bicera took care of much of the offense, and Pepsi cruised in the last quarter to claim the crown.

Bicera, who led Pepsi in scoring throughout the season, was once again the top scorer for his team with 35 points, while Gamboa and Sitchon finished with 18 and 14 points.

Gabriel also had 35 points for the Old Aces, while Rogolifoi contributed 18 points.
At the end of the game, Nepaial credited the hard work of his players, as well as the team’s chemistry.

“I put together a number of veteran players for this team so pretty much when I put them out on the court, everybody knows what to do,” he said, adding that the team will be back to defend their title next year. “We are the defending [champions] so everybody is going to come after us so its not going to be easy.”

Meanwhile, Pepsi’s 35-and-over team was also successful as the team defeated the Old Aces, 73-58, earlier in the evening.

Richard Brostrom worked his way for 20 points, while Warren Villegas and Bruce Berline added 16 and 15 points to lead Pepsi, who advanced to face pennant champion Heinz and Dave Proa for the first finals slot this Saturday.

The Old Aces got much of their scoring from Junior Renguul, who pumped in a game-high 33 points.
On Friday, Verizon kept their title hopes alive after eliminating Sabungero, 117-104.

Ed Cosino and Bicera each had 25 points, while Alex Ocampo and Gamboa punched in 16 and14 points. Elmer Pineda also had 12 points for Verizon, who will face the Old Aces at 7:30pm on Saturday.
Francis Rebuyon led Sabungero with 35 points, while William Opone and Joey Villegas added 29 and 14 points.

Saturday

First Game
Pepsi 73—Brostrom 20, Villegas 16, Berline 15, Warfield 5, Raho 4, Weaver 4, Valencia 4, Cepeda 2.

Old Aces 58—Renguul 33, Coleman 9, Untalan 6, Frink 5, Thompson 3, Camacho 2.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.

Championship

Pepsi 87—Bicera 35, Gamboa 18, Sitchon 14, Norman 8, Nepaial 4, Saiki 4, Tabei 2.
Old Aces 67—Garbiel 35, Rogolifoi 18, Garcia 6, Celis 4, Kani 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-14, 46-31, 63-46, 87-67.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pabula.

Friday

Verizon 117—Bicera 25, Cosino 25, Ocampo 16, Gamboa 14, Pineda 12, Babauta 8, Salazar 6, Sablan 3.

Sabungero 104—Rebuyon 35, Opone 29, Villegas 14, Pe 11, Malasarte 8, Miday 2, Pambid 1.

Scoring by quarters: 20-9, 62-46, 85-80, 117-104.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pabula.