Old Aces upset Proa for title slot

The Old Aces reentered the 45-and-over Masters Basketball League with a bang Friday night, upsetting pennant champion and top seed Heinz and Dave Proa, 73-71, to earn a shot at the coveted championship crown.

The Old Aces came out firing despite playing with only five players, and took a surprising 10-point lead after just period of play, 19-9.

Proa shook off the slow start and began to inch closer as lean machine Poland Yamada punched in eight points to spearhead a 19-16 run, dropping the deficit to just seven points at the break, 28-35.

The Old Aces continued to hold favor after three quarters of play and did so courtesy of Boy Garcia, who took the initiative and went berserk for 14 points to keep his team ahead. Yamada continued his scoring spree with 10 points, but with only 10 minutes remaining, Proa was down 49-55.

The Old Aces began to tire out and Proa worked the best it could to creep closer. Rufino Aguon did all he could by knocking down three field goals and a triple, and Yamada added a triple of his own and a regular basket, but fortunately for the Old Aces, time expired with them holding on for the two-point victory and a ticket to meet Pepsi in the championship game.

Gabriel and Garcia had 24 and 23 points, Tony Rogolifoi pumped in 16 points, and Reno Celis added 10 points for the Old Aces.

Yamada finished with 23 points while Aguon added 15 points. Ed Manalili and Ray Macduff chipped in 10 points.

In the second game, the 35-and-over Proa squad made sure no upset was going to be strung up and down Sabungero, 108-86.

With Richard Pambid having his way, Sabungero managed to take the early advantage as the forward torched the net for 13 points in the first 10 minutes to lead a 26-20 run.

Proa, however, retaliated in the second period and swing favor to their corner before the break, 42-40.

Action resumed and so did Proa’s furious attack as the Heinz and Dave-backed team exploded for 32 points to take a comfortable 74-60 lead, then closed off on a high note by outscoring their opponents, 34-26, in the payoff period for the easy win.

Tony Diaz finished with 32 points to lead Proa while Rick Alegre and Robert Tamondong contributed 22 and 18 points. Gilbert Espinosa also supported with 10 points.

Ed Palma paced Sabungero with 20 points while Pambid and William Opone had 19 points apiece. Francis Rebuyon also pumped in 16 points.

First Game

Old Aces 73—Gabriel 24, Garcia 23, Rogolifoi 16, Celis 10.

Proa 71—Yamada 23, Aguon 15, Manalili 10, Macduff 10, Johnson 6, Taylor 5, David 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-9, 35-28, 55-49, 73-71.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pabula.

Second Game

Proa 108—Diaz 32, Alegre 22, Tamondong 18, Espinosa 10, Ronnie 6, Aguon 6, Irome 6, Lizo 4, Ngirakelou 2, Alexander 2.

Sabungero 86—Palma 20, Pambid 19, Opone 19, Rebuyon 16, Villegas 5, Fe 3, Sorima 2, Pelino 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-26, 42-40, 74-60, 108-86.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.