Three games, two forfeits in Masters weekend

Action in the Masters Basketball League over the weekend was limited to just three games after two teams succumbed via forfeit at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.

Both Old Aces squads from the 35-and-over and 45-and-over dropped their bouts after failing to suit up enough players. The 35-and-over team was scheduled to battle Natibu on Friday, while the 45-and-over team was supposed to have its tip off with the Heinz and Dave Proa on Saturday.

Not all was lost though as fans still got a taste of action that should hold them steady until this coming weekend.

Pepsi-Sars were first to leave the venue on the winning side after holding their ground and staving off a late rally by the Chalan Kanoa Legends II for an 83-75 victory.

Sars led by double digits after each of the first two periods—24-14 and 43-28—but the Legends came storming back as action resumed, sliced the deficit, and were in striking distance as the game headed into the final stanza, 55-64.

The Legends continued to chip into the lead, however, their charge came too little too late as Sars managed to seal the deal and leave with the eight-point victory margin.

Danny Bicera led Sars with a game-high 33 points, while Norman Gamboa and Manny Sitchon scored 19 and 13 points. Veteran Tony Sablan also added 12 points.

Ray Basa finished with 20 points to lead the Legends, including nailing four triples, while power forward Dave Demapan and Jerry Lopez supported with 17 and 13 points.

On Saturday, the Heinz and Dave Proa got another solid contribution from the trio of Rick Allegre, Rufino Aguon, and Robert Tamondong to defeat Verizon, 99-84.

With Aguon bombing away from long range, and Alegre and Tamondong putting up their share of the offensive power, Proa managed to break into a double-digit lead and rested with a 49-38 advantage at the break.

The team continued to run on all cylinders and by the time the buzzer sounded marking the end of the third period, was smiling in their comfort zone and up by 20 points, 78-58.

Felix Palacios tried to rally his Verizon squad in the dying minutes, scoring eight of his 14 points in the fourth, however, his team was disconnected before making any big charge as time ran out with Proa still up by a long shot.

Alegre top scored for Proa with 24 points, while Aguon and Tamondong pumped in 23 and 18 points, with Aguon also swooshing five shots from beyond the three-point arc.

Danny Bicera led Verizon with 15 points, while Palacios and Art Salazar had 14 points apiece.

In Saturday’s other game, Sabungero fought off an early 15-point deficit with a 43-point explosion in the third period to pull to within two points, 73-75, with one period remaining, then put the icing on their comeback cake by outscoring Diamond Fixers, 27-14, in the last 10 minutes to leave with a 100-89 victory.

William Upone was sensational with a game-high 36 points to lead Sabungero, while Bernard Montano led Diamond Fixers with 22 points.

FRIDAY

Pepsi-Sars 83—Bicera 33, Gamboa 19, Sitchon 13, Sablan 12, Bogdan 2, Lebria 2.

Legends II 75—Basa 20, Demapan 17, Lopez 13, Miday 6, Abadilla 6, Villasan 5, Pangelinan 4, Takai 2, Garcia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-14, 43-28, 64-55, 83-75.

Referees: Abner Venus and Noel Delos Santos.

SATURDAY
FIRST GAME

Proa 99—Allegre 24, Aguon 23, Tamondong 18, Espinosa 12, Macduff 6.

Verizon 84—Bicera 15, F. Palacios 14, Salazar 14, Iglecias 13, G. Cabrera 12, M. Cabrera 4, Sablan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-19, 49-38, 78-58, 99-84.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Dado Vistal

SECOND GAME

Sabungero 100—Upone 36, Palma 28, Rebuyon 13, Pe 7, Peleno 6, Malasarte 3, Miday 1.

Diamond Fixers 89—Montano 22, Dayrit 21, Poquiz 17, Gabriel 14, Galag 11, Garcia 4.

Scoring by quarters: 19-24, 30-45, 73-75, 100-89.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.