Defending champion Petron-Goldberry and RDAK Transporters remained at the top of the heap of their respective divisions after they claimed victories in the ongoing 20th Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Cup on Wednesday at the Ateneo de Cebu basketball courts along Mango Avenue.
In Division A, Petron-Goldberry vanquished Bayfront Hotel Cebu, 58-52, to improve to 2-0 (win-loss), while the Transporters achieved the same feat in Division B by outclassing Caltex Delo, 53-42.
In the other Division B game, Autolab of team owner Merrich Goho, recovered from their opening-day loss by trouncing Filmon Finishing Studio, 48-25. Jose Anthony Uy helped preside over the victory with 10 points as Autolab seized a 15-5 lead after the opening period to set the tone for the one-sided affair.
Meanwhile, Petron-Goldberry leaned on the trio of big man Robert Gilo, wily guard Dave Ting and versatile forward Justin Huang to hack out the hard-earned win over Bayfront. Gilo had 15, Ting pitched in 13 while Huang added 12 to help Goldberry overhaul a 27-30 halftime deficit and take a 45-39 lead into the final frame.
Bayfront got 16 from Elmer Mykiel Cabahug and 14 from Eldie Cabahug but it was not enough to stop them from falling to their second straight loss.
In other Division A matches, the Cebu Landmasters of Franco Soberano rallied from an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth to stun the RDAK Stallions, 58-53. The Landmasters were up against the wall all game long and faced a 37-48 climb with just 10 minutes left to play. But the Landmasters persevered and unloaded a sizzling 21-5 windup to give them their first win of the season.
PBA D-League standout Moncrief Rogado and Darryle Tan had 16 apiece for the Landmasters. Lucky Ecarma scored 17 to lead the Stallions, who fell to 1-1.
Finally, Gaisano Capital debuted with a resounding 81-38 win over Chick@Phil Basic. The writing was long on the wall as early as the first which ended with Gaisano leading, 21-2. Edmund Gaisano led the winning side with 16 while Jerry Seno pitched in 12. Enrico Solon and Jasper Diaz aided the cause with 10 each.