Monday, September 29, 2008 Pier One beats Samsung to rule Shaba
THE 13th season of the oldest running alumni basketball league in the city ended Sunday with another championship to its most experienced and winningest batch as Pier One outplayed the young upstarts of Samsung, 55-47, to win the 2008 Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association title.
Powered by the core group of Batch ’90, who now have won seven Shaba titles, Pier One bullied Samsung inside while Dennis Que was a menace on defense and a one-man scoring machine.
Que exploded for 29 points while registering seven steals, including a crucial one in the last two minutes, and scored his team’s last seven points.
Pier One led for most of the game as multiple Shaba MVP winners Theogene Lim and Chad Cañares backed up Que on offense.
Both teams struggled on offense early on but Pier One’s defense kept Samsung’s high-octane offense at bay.
Samsung staged a furious fourth quarter rally behind Antonio Datan, Kester Gajudo and Jovenson Cimafranca to trim the lead to 48-47 with less than two minutes to go.
With ball possession to Samsung and a chance to grab the lead, Que made his seventh steal and scored to give Pier One a three-point lead.
After Samsung failed to score, Que then nailed a big 3-pointer to seal the game for Pier One.
Que’s 29 points led all scorers, while Theogene added 10 and Cañares had eight. Three-time MVP Dave Lim was held to just 3 points.
Gajudo led Samsung with 13 points with Cimafranca adding 12.
Sharpshooter Eldie Cabahug finished with seven points and failed to make a 3-pointer in the finals. (PR)
