Verizon beats Legends, nears finals

Defending champion Verizon is just a win away from once again entering the finals of 40-and-over Masters Basketball League title after it walloped CK Legends, 100-83, Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Like he usually does, veteran swingman Dado Vistal came up big in the crucial game and fired 10 points in each of the first two quarters to tow Verizon to leads of 26-21 and 43-31 after the first and second.

Legends tried to rally behind playmaker Dave Demapan at the start of the third period, but each time they came close, Vistal always had the answer.

The former Philippine Amateur Basketball League player dialed from long distance consecutive times to douse cold water on the Legends ambitious comeback.

In all, the 6’1” swimgman connected on six triples in the third and scored 18 of his team’s 24 points in the canto, which Verizon took 67-54.

In the fourth, Vistal’s long-time teammate and fellow PABL veteran Ed Cosino muscled his way inside to put the game finally out of reach. The 6’3” slotman pumped in 10 points in the final 10 minutes.

Vistal led four Verizon players in double figures with a game-high 42 points. Power forward Tim Paez added 19, Cosino 16, and Danny Bicera 15 points for the victors.

Demapan paced Legends’ losing cause with 16 points, while Mike Muna and Alex Ocampo tossed in 25 and 15 points, respectively. It was the team’s first loss in the playoffs.

Last Thursday, Dollar Days leveled its playoff record to 1-1 after it eliminated Top Forties, 82-62, also at the Ada Gym.

Center Bruce Berline was a terror inside the paint the whole game and scored 23 for Dollar Days. Perimeter threat Roy Alexander tied Berline for scoring honors also tallying 23 points. Point guard Arnold Mesa also added 19 markers.

Jack Blanco was the high-point man for Top Forties with 22 points. Ray Takai Juan Deleon Guerrero also chipped in 14 and 12 points. The team played minus leading scorer Oscar Masga and bowed out of the playoffs with its second loss in as many starts.

The 40-and-over MBL resumes tonight with Old Aces (0-1) taking on CK Legends (1-1) in the 6:30pm curtain raiser. The second game would feature Verizon (1-0) against Dyno-Sores (1-0).

The winner of the Verizon-Dyno-Sores tussle will secure the first finals berth and twice-to-beat advantage in the championship.

Thursday Game

Dollar Days 82 – Berline 23, Alexander 23, Mesa 19, MacDuff 11, Garcia 6.

Top Forties 62 – J. Blanco 22, Takai 14, Guerrero 12, D. Blanco 6, Palacios 6, Muna 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-10, 45-26, 63-46, 82-62.

Tuesday Game

Verizon 100 – Vistal 42, Paez 19, Cosino 16, Bicera 14, Iglecias 5, Sablan 4.

CK Legends 83 – Demapan 26, Muna 25, Ocampo 15, Lopez 6, Basa 5.

Scoring by quarters: 26-21, 43-31, 67-54, 100-83.