Echo Appliance, Worldwide Steel share SHABA lead

CEBU, Philippines - Echo Appliance and Pier One dislodged Worldwide Steel from the top spot in the 14th Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA) season at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) gym along General Maxilom Avenue, this city.

Echo Appliance survived a spirited resistance by Savers Home Depot-Transrover, 66-62, while Pier One had little trouble in dismantling Progressive Automart, 98-45.

Echo Appliance and Pier One now share the overall lead with identical 6-1 win-loss records, relegating erstwhile leader Worldwide Steel to second with a 5-1 slate.

Gaisano Capital dealt Worldwide Steel its first defeat via a 52-46 decision.

Gaisano Capital took advantage of the absence of Worldwide’s 6-foot-5 center Robert Gilo, who is recuperating from an ankle injury, and then limited reigning MVP Jeremy Huang to a paltry four points to pull off the major upset and climb to solo third with a 5-2 card.

On the other hand, Kia Motors joined the Wildcats at fourth place with similar 4-3 win-loss records. Kia Motors hacked out a 66-45 win over Mt.Zion, while the Wildcats bowed to Dynacast, 57-51.

In the other match, Island Paints snapped out of its five-game jinx with a 66-53 thrashing of New US Remnants. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)