Highly competitive SHAABAA Season 20 looms

CEBU, Philippines -  A swashbuckling and highly competitive hardcourt action looms large in the horizon as the 20th season of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) takes off tomorrow at the Lux Oriens gym of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

"It's a highly anticipated season. Modesty aside being one of the team owners , it's an all-time high for the league this year with regards to the level of competitiveness and quality of entries because we make an upgrade in terms of the composition of each team," said Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Association, Inc. President Jose Franco Soberano during the formal launching of the event yesterday at the Cebu Country Club. "Being the longest running alumni-based basketball league in Cebu, we always maintain that high standard we have set."

Soberano was joined by SHAABAA President Kevin Lim, board member Jeremy Huang and former president Marcelino Co, who all look forward to very exciting SHAABAA Season 2.

To be featured right on opening day is the grudge rematch betweeen last year's finalists, eventual champion Petron-Golberry and runner-up Cebu Landmasters.

The two heavyweight squads are seeing action under Division A together with an equally-strong cast of title contenders that include RDAK Stallions of Regan King, who is manned by former varsity of the SHS-Ateneo Magis Eagles, Gaisano Capital, Chick@Phil-Basic, Filmon Prince Medallion, and league newcomer Bayfront Hotel Cebu led by Chase Cokaliong, son of the decorated sharpshooter Chester Cokaliong.

In Division B, the RDAK Transporters will kick-start their title defense against Filmon Finishing Studio. The other contenders in their group are AutoLAB, Caltex Delo 90, Dynamic Power, and White Gold Club.

Each division is governed by double round robin format in the elimination. The top four will advance into the crossover semifinals, with the top qualifiers going up against No.4 and the No.2 taking on the No.3 seed in a best-of-three series. The winners will then clash for the division championships also in a best-of-three affair.

"It's anyone's tournament because all the teams are very competitive. It's going to be a season to watch out for with most of team beefing up their respective rosters," said SHAABAA commissioner Al Solis, a highly-respected figure in Cebu cagedom having rose from the ranks as a collegiate and commercial standout to one of the brightest PBA stars during his prime.

Huang, on the other hand, highlighted the significane of holding this yearly athletic meet among SHS-Ateneo graduates.

"The good thing about SHAABAA is the camaraderie that translates even outside basketball. It's also a chance for us not only to renew ties and foster fellowship among our fellow alumni but also to gain new friends," said Huang, one of the vital cogs of Petron-Goldberry. (FREEMAN)