JBA nips SHABA in Exec Cup

James Lloyd Noel fired 26 points and had seven rebounds as the Crunchicken/Purcia Transport-backed Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) nipped the Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA)-Cebu Home Builders, 77-68, to grab the solo second spot in the 2006 Executives Cup basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

In the other game, the San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA)-M. Lhuillier mangled the listless City Sports Club-Sirlitz/Skylark, 105-60, to notch its second straight win after a shocking loss toTeam Barkada in the season-opener.

Noel, who was almost perfect on a 12-of-14 shooting from the field, was backed up by Edmund Odulio Jnr and Archie Coros with 31 points combined on top of 11 rebounds and seven assists.

JBA used a 12-point edge, 57-45, after three quarters as its shield in chalking up its third victory in four starts.

Theogene Lim fired 20 points on top of six rebounds and five assists, but shot a paltry 9-of-23 from the field for SHABA, which suffered its second setback against only one win.

Earlier, star center Paul Abais had a solid double-double finish with 23 points and 10 rebounds on a 5-of-9 sniping from the 3-point land, while cat-quick playmaker Edwin Banaag added 20 markers as SCBHABA notched its second win in three starts.

Dindo Sausa contributed 14 points,while Dindo Sausa and Virgil Pua chipped in 10 markers apiece for SCBHABA, which battered City Sports Club in the first two quarters for a 57-27 lead at halftime.

The red-hot SCBHABA mainstays spared no mercy as they relentlessly pummeled City Sports Club in the third canto, 25- ,leading to an eye-popping 45-point blowout - by far the most lopsided victory this season.

Gilbert Gajudo posted season-highs 35 points and 18 rebounds, but his solitary effort couldn't spell any difference as City Sports Club tailspun to the cellar with a pitiful 0-3 win-loss record.

The scores

First game

SCBHABA (105) - Abais 23, Banaag 20, Sausa 14, Pua 10, Amores 10, Monsanto 8, Zanoria 6, Wong 4, Diaz 4, Villamor 4, Angan 2

City Sports Club (60) - Gajudo 35, Malixi 10, Sarmiento 6, Sanzhez 5, Boholst 4

Second game

JBA (77) - Noel 26, Odulio 18, Coros 13, Jayme 8,Cortes 8, Chua 4

SHABA (68) - T. Lim 20, Roxas 13, Divinagracia 10,Young 8, N. Lim 8, Tan 4, P. Lim 3 Co 2