14th SHABA season gets underway today

CEBU, Philippines – The Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA), the longest running alumni-based cage league in Cebu, kicks off its 14th edition this afternoon at the new Sacred Heart School-Jesuit campus in Brgy. Canduman, Mandaue City.

The rest of the games for this year’s season, however, will be played at the old SHS-J campus along General Maxilom Avenue, this city.

The opening will be held in Mandaue as SHS through the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Alumni Association (SHSJAA) wants to show their new sports facilities.

 According to SHABA commissioner Bobby Inoferio, the Canduman campus has a top-of-the line facility.

A total of 12 squad led by the defending champion Pier One will vie for top honors.

The rest of the participating teams are Dynacast, Echo Appliance, Gaisano Capital, Island Paints, Kia Motors, Mt.Zion, New US Remnants,Pier One, Progressive Automart, Wildcats and Worldwide Steel.

Two games will be played simultaneously today pitting Gaisano Capital against Echo Appliance and Kia Motors opposite Progressive Automart.

The tournament follows a single round robin format with the top eight advancing into the quarterfinals. The top four will move into the crossover semifinals, with the survivors slugging it out for the championship.

Inoferio, who once called the shots for the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the collegiate league and the Osaka Iridology in the commercial circuit, said stiff sanctions and heavy penalties will be slapped against erring parties.

“We will be imposing heavy penalties to ensure that walay manlawgaw sa duwa, walay magbinuang and just play the game well,” said Inoferio. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)