Proa downs Old Aces in Masters shootout

The Heinz and Dave Proa got all it needed from veteran Tony Diaz and outgunned the Old Aces, 113-92, with clutch baskets in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Masters Basketball League shootout at the Northern Marinas College.

The 35-and-over game was tightly fought in the opening period, but the favor was in Proa’s corner as the team held a five-point breathing room after the first 10 minutes of play, 27-22. Sniper Rufino Aguon showed his touch from the outside as the player—and well known coach—went to work right away and swooshed three bombs, finishing with 12 points to spearhead the Proa attack.

Aguon and Old Aces playmaker Elias Rangamar were engaged in a shootout as the two fired up shots from outside the three-point arc, most of which found their way through the hoop.

Rangamar, who had two triples in the opening quarter, drilled three more in the second, scoring 15 straight points for his team and helping the Old Aces close the gap, 45-48, at the break.

After a silent second, Aguon went back to work in the third quarter and didn’t lose a beat as he connected for three more long range jumpers.

Rangamar nailed one of his own, but the highlights belonged to mid-range shooter Junior Renguul, who unleashed 12 points as the Old Aces inched closer before the 10-mnute stanza expired, 71-73.

Rangamar nailed three more triples and Renguul pumped in six points in the fourth, but their efforts did not match Aguon, Diaz, and the Proa family, who exploded for 40 points while limiting the Old Aces to 21 for the 21-point victory margin.

Diaz was hot in the payoff period as he sank eight shots for 16 points while Aguon and the rest of the Proa cagers supported well with a balanced attack.

Diaz finished with a game-high 40 points to lead Proa, while Aguon knocked in 23 points, all but two of them coming from long distance. Robert Tamondong and Roy Alexander also contributed 11 and 10 points.

For his part, Rangamar found the bottom of the net nine times from beyond the three-point arc and finished with 37 points, while Renguul and forward Steve Coleman contributed 32 and 11 points for Old Aces.

Also, the Old Aces in the 45-and-over league earned a free win after Pepsi failed to suit up enough players.

Proa 113—Ton. Diaz 40, Aguon 23, Tamondong 11, Alexander 10, Alegre 9, Tom Diaz 8, Macduff 4, Espinoza 2.

Old Aces 92—Rangamar 37, Renguul 32, Coleman 11, Majors 3, Frink 1.

Scoring by quarters: 27-22, 48-45, 73-71, 113-92.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pacheco.