CEBU, Philippines - The Goldberry Suites started the brand new season of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association with a bang, repulsing bitter rivals and defending champion Cebu Landmasters, 68-66, during the opening playdate of the SHAABAA Mivesa Cup last Sunday at the Magis Eagles Arena inside the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Brgy. Canduman, Mandaue City.
The game was played on near-even terms in the first half, with the Landmasters leading by just a hairline at the break, 37-36, thanks to the combined 16-point output of Kevin Villamor and Franco Te.
But Goldberry, a team that boasts of multiple titles in the 18-year history of the league but has not won it since 2010, outscored the the Landmasters in the third period, 19-14, behind the efforts of Justin and Jeremy Huang, Chad Cañares and big man Robert Gilo to gain a five-point headway, 55-51, entering the final 10-minute mark of the contest.
The Landmasters frantically tried to keep in step with Goldberry in the fourth stanza but the latter held their ground to hack out the thrilling win.
Justin Huang topscored for the winning side with 24 points on top of seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Gilo charted 11 markers to offset the horrible performance of many-time league MVP Dave Lim, who just netted five points before fouling out of the game.
Kevin Villamor and Kyle Valmoria each had 15 for the Landmasters, while Te added 12.
In the other game, the RDAK Transporters defeated the Milco Fresh Eggs, 60-53, as Ian Ong waxed hot with 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. Junie Alejandro also helped the cause with 11 markers. Milco was led by Chad Go with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Insular Square also emerged victorious at the expense of Alberto’s Pizza, 81-53. The writing was on the wall early on as Insular Square raced to a blistering 24-9 start, setting the stage for a lopsided match. Four players scored in double figures for Insular Square led by Leigh Dixon with 19 points. Antonio Datan finished with 17 points followed by Ed Macasling with 15 and Job Shan with 10.
San Jose Bakeshop and Gaisano Capital rounded out the cast of opening day winners. San Jose Bakeshop beat the A-Team, 56-49, in an intense encounter that saw the ejection of several players following a scuffle with 6:30 left in the game, while Gaisano Capital outlasted the San Remigio Aguilas, 84-70, behind the efforts of Patrick Jacobe and Reggie Abbu who combined for 37 points. (FREEMAN)