Verizon back on top of MBL

Powerhouse Verizon entered the finals of the 2005 35-and-over Masters Basketball League with their backs against the wall, but came through to win two games to reclaim the coveted championship over the weekend at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

Already dropping a game in the playoffs, Verizon needed to win two games to claim the title, while fellow powerhouse Heinz & Dave Proa only needed to take one game.

Proa, however, lost their twice-to-beat advantage after Verizon put up a better showing Saturday night to force a do-or-die bout with a 102-89 victory.

Verizon then sealed their 2005 campaign with a dominating 108-92 victory yesterday afternoon.

“Despite dropping our first game of the playoffs, I was still confident with the guys…aside from some additions, we have the same nucleus of players that has been playing together for quite awhile, so I know what we’re capable of,” said Verizon playing-coach Tony Sablan. “I knew we can go all the way because we’ve been through this before and came back. The past three or four games, we just picked up our play a notch and the players responded well.”

Alex Ocampo was like a house on fire in leading Verizon to the title yesterday.

The versatile forward had a good start and knocked in 10 points in the first 10 minutes of play, while center Ed Cosino pumped in eight points to help Verizon take a 23-18 lead.

Verizon then busted the game open and ballooned their lead by outscoring the depleted Proa lineup, 27-17, for a comfortable 15-point spread at the break. Ocampo continued to work his butt off and hit 11 of the team’s first 12 points in the second quarter.

Verizon’s comfort zone was short-lived though, as Proa unleashed a furious attack to start the second half. A 13-7 run in the first three minutes enabled the crew to inch closer, eventually cutting the deficit to just nine points on a basket by injured Tony Diaz with seven minutes left in the third period, 48-57.

Verizon, however, was able to recover and responded with a 21-10 run the rest of the third stanza to stretch their lead to a commanding 20 points, 78-58.

It was cruise control from then on as Proa never got closer than 14 points and faltered in the end.

Ocampo and Cosino led Verizon with 31 and 20 points, while Danny Bicera, Nomar Gamboa, and Elmer Pineda each scored 10 or more points.

Gilbert Espinosa put up a valiant effort for Proa and finished with a game-high 39 points while Robert “Onyok” Tamondong and Tom Diaz added 19 and 10 points.

“It’s great to have it back,” Sablan said. “The guys felt bad after losing in the championship game last year…we’ve won all the championships except for last year, so we wanted this badly. We’re already looking forward to next year and we’ll be back.”

Saturday’s bout was a bit tougher for Verizon as Proa kept pace until the fourth period.

With Proa’s outside shooting working to their advantage, the team managed to post a 25-20 lead after the first period.

Verizon came back strong and closed the half with a 44-42 lead, and held on for a 71-70 lead after three periods of play before breaking away.

Cosino and Frank Iglecias came up with big shots to spread the gap and Verizon lit up the scoreboards for 31 points compared to Proa’s 19 to keep their title hopes alive.

Cosino and Ocampo paced Verizon with 21 and 19 points, while Iglecias and Pineda finished with 13 points apiece.

Espinosa led Proa with 28 points, while Rufino Aguon and Tamondong added 20 and 17 points.

Sunday

Verizon 108—Ocampo 31, Cosino 20, Bicera 12, Gamboa 11, Pineda 10, Palacios 6, Iglecias 6, Salazar 6, Babauta 3, Cabrera 2.

Proa 92—Espinosa 39, Tamondong 19, Tom Diaz 10, Jinang 9, Ton. Diaz 8, Ngirakelou 3, MacDuff 2, Mejia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-18, 50-35, 78-58, 108-92.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.

Saturday

Verizon 102—Cosino 21, Ocampo 19, Iglecias 13, Pineda 13, Palacios 9, Gamboa 9, Cabrera 9, Bicera 5, Babauta 2.

Proa 89—Espinosa 28, Aguon 20, Tamondong 17, Diaz 6, MacDuff 5, Mejia 4, Tarkong 3.

Scoring by quarters: 20-25, 44-42, 71-70, 102-89.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Arnold Mesa.