NICAEL Cabanero showcased his University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) star quality by scoring 42 points with seven three-pointers to lead the 2021-Fadi team to a thrilling 87-83 win against 2013-Nest Workspaces in Division C of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (Shaabaa) Season 28 at the Magis Eagles Arena on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
The two-time UAAP scoring champion and Mythical Five member also grabbed 14 rebounds, earning him the Best Player of the Game award.
Fadi improved to 3-2, keeping its playoff hopes alive behind undefeated squads 2018-Xchange Forex (5-0) and 2015-Imperial House of Furniture (5-0). The loss dropped 2013-Nest to fourth place with a 3-3 record.
It was a tight contest from start to finish with 13 lead changes and six deadlocks.
Nest Workspaces built a 10-point 38-28 lead midway through the second quarter, with Jorine Cercado, Rendell Senining and Arc Araw-araw combining forces.
However, Cabanero spearheaded a 15-4 rally with the able support of Rey Marcus Uy Fuentes, Anskie-Mclouie Espina and Sean Joshua Uribe to give Fadi a narrow 43-42 edge at halftime.
Fadi shifted the momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Nest 26-19 to extend the lead to 69-61 heading into the final period.
Nest made several late pushes, but Fadi managed to hold on to preserve the win.
Fuentes and Espina finished with 16 and 13 points, respectively, while Uribe had only four points, but was effective in the paint as he pulled down 13 rebounds.
For Nest, Cercado scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Senining added 27 points with five three-pointers. Espina also scored 13 points.
In other Division C matches, 2018-Xchange Forex (5-0) defeated 2023-Kaway (2-3) 109-70, 2015-Imperial House of Furniture (5-0) edged winless 2020-BYD (0-6) 64-59 and 2024-Kilat Refreshment (2-3) beat 2025-Rufrance and Chech Technologies (1-4) 109-96.
Benedict Chua fired 24 points, Xavier Tariman had 19 and seven rebounds, while Juliano Yusingco posted 14 markers and 11 boards to lead Forex. Kaway got 21 points from Rafael Fifth Arradaza and 16 from Kent Json Dumandan.
Anton Bennet Chua and Irvin Dwight Dumol led Imperial with 20 and 14 points, respectively, while Mitch Ivan Almodal had 21 for BYD.
In Division B, Mikey Cabahug scored 29 points with four three-pointers to lead 2006-Subtero past 2007-Knoxsteel, 68-60, improving their record to 5-3.
2005-Insular Square (7-1) relied on Elddie Cabahug’s 29 points to defeat 2011-Onses (3-5), 73-68, solidifying second place.
Batch 2010-ZLREJ (6-2) devastated 2KCares.Org (1-7), 89-39, for solo third place.
The 2012-Golden Dragons defeated Magis Medical Funds, 64-54, while 2004-The Win (8-0) stayed perfect with a 85-75 triumph over 2K Core Pacific (1-7). / JBM