By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE PTI Yankees grabbed the first finals berth in the 35-and-up division of the 2006-2007 Masters Basketball League after beating Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense, 79-76 last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Ed Palma topscored for the Yankees with 27 points, but it was the four-quarter explosion of Edsel Mendoza that lifted PTI past SIP.
Mendoza drilled 11 of the Yankees last 16 points. He finished with 20 markers.
Richard Brostrom was the third Yankee’ player to score in double figures with 13.
The Yankees’ foe in the finals will be the winner of the Old’Aces-SIP tiff. The battle for the last finals ticket was played last night, but the results were unavailable at press time.
The Old’s Aces, who lost to the Yankees in their first game in the double-elimination playoffs, kept their finals bid alive after downing the PTI Typhoons, 79-67, last Friday.
John Santos paced the Old’Aces with 23 points, while Tony Luzama chipped in 18 markers. Three other Old’Aces players scored in double figures in the team’s balanced offense. Elias Rangamar had 13, while Junior Renguul and Colin Thomson had 10 markers apiece.
George Masga led the Typhoons’cause hitting 32 points.
In the 45-and-up division, Proa secured the first finals slot after whipping LBT Appraisal, 91-84, last Wednesday.
Rufino Aguon’s guns were blazing last Wednesday, as he buried five triples and finished with 29 points. Mario Alegre contributed 14 markers, while Ed Manalili and Poland Yamada added 13 markers apiece. Dave Demapan had 14.
Alex Ocampo had 30 points for LBT Appraisal, while Noel Delos Santos scored 24.
Proa’s opponent will be the winner of the PTI Storms-Top 45 game.
Top 45 won over NIC, 91-69, last Wednesday, to earn the right to challenge the Storms for the last finals berth. The Storms notched the automatic semis berth after topping the regular season.
Top 45 and the Storms were playing last night, but the results were unavailable at press time.
There will be no games in the Masters caging tomorrow, as championship matches in the 45-and-up and 25-and-up divisions will be played this Friday.
Scores:
45&U
First Game
Top 45 91—O. Masga 27, Basa 17, J. Guerrero 16, Takai 10, J. Pangelinan 7, Cruz 7, G. Pangelinan 5.
NIC 69—Ebuen 20, Dacula 14, Gabriel 12, Arenas 8, Manuta 7, Cruz 4, Alejandro 4.
Second Game
Proa 91—Aguon 29, M. Alegre 15, Demapan 14, Manalili 13, Yamada 13, Tamondong 7.
LBT 84—Ocampo 30, Delos Santos 24, Dimaano 8, Garcia 7, Lopez 6, Tiples 3, Villasan 3.
35&U
First Game
Yankees 79—Palma 27, Mendoza 20, Brostrom 13, Berline 5, Villegas 4, Warfield 2, Gabaldon 2.
SIP 76—R. Alegre 16, Diaz 15, Delos Reyes 14, Macoto 12, Pambid 6, Rebuyon 4, Pambid 4, Villarin 3, Cayetano 2.
Second Game
Old’Aces 79—Santos 23, Luzama 18, Rangamar 12, Thompson 2, Renguul 10, Rogolifoi 6.
Typhoons 67—G. Masga 32, J. Palacios 18, Vistal 9, Cosino 4, Gamboa 2.