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Proa downs Verizon in 35-and-over playoffs
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Posted on Oct 03 2005
The Heinz and Dave Proa won its second game in as many days after taking advantage of a short-handed Verizon team to post a lopsided 108-81 victory as the playoffs of the 35-and-over Masters Basketball League continued Saturday at the Northern Marianas College Gymnasium.
With Verizon missing key players, Proa quickly took advantage as Tony Diaz, Rufino Aguon, and Robert “Onyok” Tamondong jumpstarted the campaign by combining for 26 points in the opening 10 minutes, enabling the team to take a 30-16 lead.
Despite playing without forward Danny Bicera, Ed Cosino, and Frank Iglecias, Verizon still came up with a respectable run in the second quarter and put a small dent on their deficit as Art Salazar, Gary Cabrera, and Elmer Pineda shouldered a push that enabled their team to cut the lead to 11 points, 42-53.
Action resumed after the break and so did Diaz’s scoring spree. He went ballistic and scored 20 points in the stanza. The veteran guard actually scored 14 straight team points in the quarter, fueling a 34-point explosion that ballooned Proa’s lead to a commanding 29 points with only one period left, 87-58.
It was cruise control from there as Proa closed the game with ease.
Diaz finished with a game-high 37 points to lead Proa, while Tamondong and Aguon added 16 and 15 points, respectively. Rick Alegre and Gilbert Espinosa also had 14 and 10 points.
Cabrera paced Verizon with 25 points, while Salazar and Pineda supported him with 23 and 14 points. Small forward Felix Palacios chipped in 10 points.
Meanwhile, the game between the Chalan Kanoa Legends and Natibu was not played as neither team managed to suit up enough players.
Proa 108—Diaz 37, Tamondong 16, Aguon 15, Alegre 14, Espinosa 10, MacDuff 4, Ngirakelou 4, Manalili 4, Ronnie 2, Lizo 2.
Verizon 81—Cabrera 25, Salazar 23, Pineda 14, Palacios 10, Ocampo 4, Babauta 2.
Scoring by quarters: 30-16, 53-42, 87-58, 108-81.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.
