OJ CIMAFRANCA and Ed Acuna came up with big plays down the stretch to push the 2008-Sunpride Foods, Inc. over the 2005-Bizol, 66-63, in Division B of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) 2019 Cebu Landmasters Cup at the Ateneo de Cebu basketball courts along General Maxilom Avenue on Wednesday night, September 25, 2019.
The win was almost in the bag for 2005 after star forward Elddie Cabahug sank a triple to put them up 63-60 with 1:20 remaining. However, Cimafranca answered with a three-point play for 2008 to tie things up at 63-all with 59 seconds to go.
2005 had several chances at reclaiming the lead but Cabahug missed two triples while Aaron Uy botched two free-throws. Acuna then scored a deuce off of a great assist by Ed Macasling to give 2008 the lead, 65-63, with just 15 seconds remaining.
On 2005’s possession, Acuna then came up with a steal and made a free-throw to extend their lead to three, 66-63, with five ticks left on the clock.
Cabahug had a shot at tying the game but his triple missed as time expired.
Cimafranca led 2008 with 23 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block while Macasling added 19 points and four assists.
Cabahug, who leads the entire league in scoring, scored 27 points but shot just 9-of-28 from the field.
In Division C, the 2015-StorageTown bested the 2011-Chioson Development Corp., 68-61. Steven Co led 2015’s balanced attack with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Nino Araw-Araw added 11 points, four boards, four assists and three steals.
The 2010-Casino Ethyl Alcohol also prevailed over Batch 2018, 43-35.
Then in Division A, the 1999-AutoLAB defeated the 1996-FWD Insurance, 53-36. 1999’s main guys, Robert Gilo and Jeremy Huang, were virtually unstoppable as the former had 25 points and 19 rebounds while the latter added 11 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals. (SunStar Cebu)