By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

PROA eliminated the Dino Sores in the 45-and-up division of the 2006-2007 Masters Basketball League after cruising to a 68-50 victory last Friday at the start of the playoffs in the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Mario Alegre and Poland Yamada led Proa’s victory, scoring 15 points apiece.
Andy Nepaial and Alfonso Theo paced the Dino Sores with 14 markers each.
The game started close with Proa leading by only five at the end of the first quarter, 17-12.
But with Yamada and Alegre finding their marks in the second quarter and Rufino Aguon and Robert Tamondong hitting a couple of baskets, Proa began pulling away, 36-18.
The Dino Sores struggled offensively in the second period scoring only six points and faced an 18-point deficit at halftime.
The Dino Sores never recovered from thereon.
Proa advanced to the next round and will face the winner of the LBT-Old’Aces tiff.
Tomorrow, Top 45 takes on NIC with the winner meeting pennant champion PTI Storms on Friday.
The championship game will be played next Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the playoffs in the 35-and-up division started last night.
The PTI Yankees were squaring off with the PTI Yankees in the first game at 7 p.m., while Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense was fighting the Old’Aces in the second match.
The results of neither match were available at press time.
The 35-and-up division has a double-elimination format.
Scores:
Proa 68—M. Alegre 15, Yamada 15, Tamondong 8, Aguon 7, Demapan 6, Macduff 4, Mabel 4.
Dino Sores 50—Nepaial 14, Theo 14, Northern 8, Norman 6, Lebria 5, Koichi 4.
Quarterscores: 17-12, 36-18, 56-38, 68-50