THE longest-running alumni basketball league in Cebu is set to unfurl as the PLDT SME Nation-Alfredo Gothong Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association gets going this Sunday at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.
This year’s event will feature three new division formats: Division A which is the Championship division, Division B which features solid batch squads from 2001 and below, and Division C, for solid batch teams from 2002 and above.
Division A will have defending champions Bling Nation—formerly the Goldberry Hotel and Suites, Bayfront Hotel Cebu, Cebu Landmasters, Harley Davidson and Gaisano Capital.
Division B will have AutoLAB Batch 99, GEF Incorporated Batch 98, Chick@Phil Batch 89, Batch 93, Ngohiong Batch 94, Batch 95, White Gold Club Batch 96, Batch 97, Batch 92, Dynamic Casting Batch 01, Core Pacific Batch 02Choobi Bay Cray and Shrimp Batch 91.
Finally, Division C will feature Batch 2015, Batch 2014, Radar Tires Batch 04, Kitrol Batch Batch 03, Prince WareHouse Batch06, Gateway Group Batch 07 and South Tiger Trucks and Heavy Equipment Batch 05.
“First and foremost, there are two milestones that we are very proud of that is being achieved this year; We are the longest running alumni tournament in Visayas. No other alumni association in Visayas came near to this run. And with the addition of the third division, we have achieved the most divisions in SHAABAA. As you all remember, SHAABAA Division B was created three years ago for the older alumni. Looking at the success of SHAABAA Division B, we have decided to create another division for the younger alumni so that many more alumni can join and compete in this tournament,” said Shaabaa president Clement Gothong.
“It has been a rough and tough 20 years for this league, but we’re still here now stronger and bigger as ever. We are very proud to be hosting this for the 21st time and it brings us so much joy to see the camaraderie and brotherhood being built, developed and tested on and off the court. Hopefully we will continue to grow bigger, stronger and better every year.”