GMall draws first blood in SHAABAA Division A finals

CEBU, Philippines — GMall of Cebu stunned the previously undefeated Core Pacific Group, 61-57, to gain a 1-0 head start in the best-of-three Division A finals of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Season 27 over the weekend at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles Arena in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

Derick Mangubat showed the way for GMall with 16 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist.

Paulsen Uy tallied 13 markers, while Mark Sy chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block to help GMall get past Core Pacific in a tightly-fought battle that was accounted for five deadlocks and nine lead changes.

Former PBA star Joel Co was the lone double-digit scorer for Core Pacific with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.

In the battle for third place, Hanzel Uy sizzled with 13 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one assist as 2kcares.org melted Yangtze Ice, 58-48.

In other games, ZLREJ Trading & Construction Batch 2010 and Xchange Forex Batch 2018 barged into the championship of their respective divisions.

Gabe Branzuela fired 25 points and four assists while Jasper Diaz and Dellbert Tan connived for 28 points as Batch 2010 knocked out ‘04 For the Win Batch 2004, 68-62, to set up a title clash with Puresteel Manufacturing Corp Batch 2011 in Division B.

On the other hand, Errol Pastor, Jed Cedrick Colonia, and Benedict Andre Chua shined brightly as Batch 2018 terminated the Cebu Landmasters/CloudKart Batch 2014, 61-52.

Pastor netted 13 points and five boards, Colonia finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Chua also had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds for Batch 2018, which will challenge next the defending champion Nest Workspaces Batch 2013 for the Division C crown. — (FREEMAN)