By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

LBT Appraisal and Top 45 posted lopsided wins as action in BANMI’s Masters Basketball League returned last Monday to the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
LBT clobbered the Dino Sores, 77-58, in the first game of the 45-and-up division, while Top 45 trounced the Old’Aces, 106-46.
Ador Dimaano and Alex Ocampo led LBT’s 19-point win firing 24 and 20 points, respectively.
LBT had control of the game from start to finish to cruise to an easy victory.
It held the Dino Sores to eight points in the first quarter and posted an early double-digit lead, 18-8.
Ocampo led LBT’s good start firing six in the first period.
Ocampo continued to burn the hoops in the second quarter with his short jumpers and undergoal stabs. He scored LBT’s first eight points in that period, as the winning team kept its double-digit advantage at halftime, 34-22.
Dimaano, who had six points in the first half, led LBT’s balanced offense in the third quarter adding six more markers. Five other players contributed to LBT’s offense in the third quarter giving their team a 53-39 lead, entering the final canto.
Dimaano played his best game offensively in the fourth quarter, as he scored 12 in the final canto, including 10 straight markers at one point in that period.
With Dimaano getting his range and other LBT players stepping up in the fourth period, the Dino Sores failed to make headway in the final quarter and absorbed their second loss.
Andy Nepaial paced the Dino Sores with 17 points, while Scott Norman added 15.
In the second game, Top 45 nailed a 60-point win against the short-handed Old’Aces, who played with only six players.
Meanwhile, teams in the 35-and-up division are featured in tonight’s games.
Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense meets PTI in the first game at 6:30 p.m, while the second game at 8 p.m. will have the Old’Aces facing the Typhoons.
On Friday, Tropical Storm squares off with NMC Proa in the first game at 6:30 p.m. NIC challenges the Old’Aces in the second match at 8 p.m. Both matches are in the 45-and-up division.
The organizing Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands will be implementing separate playing schedules for the 35-and-up and 45-and-up divisions.
Teams in the 45-and-up divisions will be playing every Monday and Friday, while games in the 35-and-up division are set for Wednesdays.
Scores:
LBT 77—Dimaano 24, Ocampo 20, Delos Santos 8, Miday 6, Baterena 6, Garcia 4, Abadilla 4, Tiples 2, Lopez 2, Villasan 2, Magcalas 1.
Dino Sores 58—Nepaial 17, Norman 15, Koebel 8, Alfonso 6, Bransel 4, Steinberg 4, Saiki 2, Kramer 2.
Quarterscores: 18-8, 34-22, 53-39, 77-58