SHAABAA Season 28 to kick off on Sunday

CEBU, Philippines — With its usual pomp and pageantry, the 28th season of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) will kick off on Sunday, May 25, at the Magis Eagles Arena of Sacred Heart Scool-Ateneo de Cebu in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

Under the new leadership of SHAABAA President Dr. Chammy Lastimosa Dalawampu, the league has instituted some changes this season.

Foremost among them is the introduction of drafting system for Division B.

“This allows players from batches in Division B who can’t form a team to play while giving existing teams a chance to upgrade their roster through the draft. This increases the level of competitiveness, making each game in Division B a must-see,” said Dalawampu.

Additionally, SHAABAA has tapped the services of Metro Cebu Basketball Referee Association (MCBRA) to officiate the games. MCBRA also handles the officiating of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

Interestingly though, there will only be two divisions this time.

Division B will have 11 teams while Division C has eight.

Batch 2000’s Core Pacific and 2kcares.org together with guest team Magis Medical Fund composed of Ateneo de Cebu faculty and staff will be seeing action in Division B.

The Top 6 for both divisions will slug it out in the playoffs.

Looking forward to their formal opening ceremony, Dalawampu said it’s always been a calm situation before the storm on the hardcourt for the Ateneo Hearters.

 “Typical of Sacred Hearters, competition runs in our blood. We experience the quiet before the storm but on opening day, I expect the all that pent-up adrenaline to surge and the players to burn with the flame of competitiveness,” Dalawampu said.

“I call upon each player to burn with the spirit of competition. To rise up and defend the honor of your batch. To foster the bonds with your batchmates through the love of basketball,” Dalawampu added. “Once the dust has settled and this season is over, remember that we are all brothers as alumni of Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu.”