Old Aces, Legends start playoff on high note

Old Aces and Legends started the playoffs of the 40-and-over Masters Basketball League by whipping separate rivals Tuesday evening at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, playmaker Elias Rangamar was a man possessed from the second quarter onwards and led Old Aces to a 92-64 rout of hapless Top Forties.

After successfully distributing the ball to teammates Tony Luzama and Tony Rogolifoi in the first quarter, which Old Aces took 19-10, Rangamar changed into his Superman suit in the second quarter, exploding for 8 points to give his team a 42-32 edge at halftime.

His hot hands continued to do their work in the third, as he teamed up with John Salas and kept Old Aces on the driver’s seat. The team also got a huge lift from the defense of Bob Coldeen, who practically handcuffed himself to Top Forties leading scorer Oscar Masga.

At the end of three quarters of play, Old Aces had a 67-44 advantage.

In the fourth and final quarter, Top Forties finally got some steady production from Masga and Juan Deleon Guerrero, but it was another case of too little, too late as Rangamar and company sealed the game with plenty to spare.

Rangamar capped another brilliant game by connecting three more times from rainbow country. He went on to finish with 20 points to pace Old Aces, who also got 20 markers from Luzama and 17 from all-time basketball great Rogolifoi.

Jack Blanco was the highpoint man for Top Forties with 22 markers. Guerrero added 18 and Masga 17 in a losing cause.

Legends, meanwhile, leaned on the combined 50 points of Alex Ocampo and Dave Demapan to turn back a disorganized Dollar Days quintet, 82-69.

The game was nip-and-tuck in the opening quarter. But the lefty Demapan would attack the hoop with passion in the second to help Legends to a 36-27 lead at intermission.

Ray Basa then joined the party in the third as Legends extended their lead, 61-45, with 10 minutes to go in the ballgame.

Legends continued to dominate the fourth until a late run led by Dollar Days playing-coach Arnold Mesa and swingman Boy Garcia sliced the lead to manageable proportions.

With less than three minutes to go and Dollar Days just down by 6, Mesa forced a triple from the corner. The team had another chance when center Bruce Berline muscled down a rebound and opted to go coast-to-coast.

Demapan and forward Mike Muna pressured him at center court for a turnover and Legends were able to hold on to the win.

Ocampo and Demapan finished with the game’s scoring honors with 25 points apiece. Basa and Muna also pumped in 15 and 10 points.

Berline led Dollar Days with 21 markers, while Mesa and reserve big man Benjie Abadilla came away with 18 and 11 points, respectively.

First Game

Old Aces 92 – Rangamar 24, Luzama 20, Rogolifoi 17, Salas 10, Celis 4, Ruluked 4, White 4, Limes 3, Tomokane 2.

Top Forties 64 – J. Blanco 22, Guerrero 18, Masga 17, D. Blanco 5, Takai 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-10, 42-32, 67-44, 92-64.

Second Game

Legends 82 – Ocampo 25, Demapan 25, Basa 15, Muna 10, Cruz 4, Pangelinan 3.

Dollar Days 69 – Berline 21, Mesa 18, Abdadilla 11, B. Garcia 10, Alexander 5, A. Garcia 4.

Scoring by quarters: 15-12, 36-27, 61-45, 82-69.