SHAABAA division a finals: Core Pacific forces knockout match against GMall

CEBU, Philippines — The Core Pacific Group lashed back at GMall of Cebu via a 54-53 cliffhanger to force a rubber match 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.

Core Pacific saw its 12-point advantage, 33-21, late in the first half evaporate as GMall rallied back with finesse to seize the lead, 43-42, early in the final period.

Core Pacific, however, quickly regained the driver’s seat, 48-44, midway in the fourth quarter.

A see-saw battle ensued but Core Pacific showed nerves of steel when it mattered most to live and fight for another day.

Jeremy Ryan Huang was the lone double-digit scorer for Core Pacific with 10 points, five rebounds, one assist and three steals but the likes of Joel Co, Dave Michael Ting, Joseph Lo, and Dave Lim also made big contributions.

Co netted nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Ting tallied eight markers on top of two rebounds and three assists, Lo had seven points and seven rebounds, while Lim scored six laced with 11 boards, two assists, and a block.

Meanwhile, in a pair of sudden-death duels for third place, ‘04 For the Win Batch 2004 mauled Radius One Batch 2007, 72-48, in Division B, while the Cebu Landmasters/CloudKart Batch 2014 pummeled FADI Batch 2021, 60-42, in Division C.

Christopher Consunji and Ervin Lopena connived for 24 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals for Batch 2004, while Francis Dave Soria added 11 points and four rebounds.

Lucky Ecarma paced Batch 2014 with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. He drew huge support from Jair Igna also with 19 points spiked with six boards. — (FREEMAN)