THE CEBU Landmasters snatched the rug from under the many-time champions Goldberry Suites as they won Game One of the best-of-three Finals series, 66-61, in overtime in the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHABAA) last Sunday at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Ervin Lopena stepped up in the absence of the top guns of the Cebu Landmasters as he scored 23 points, including a crucial trey with seconds remaining in regulation that sliced Goldberry’s six-point lead in half.
With time running out, Gino Reyes swished another three pointer that tied the game to send it to the extra session where the Landmasters dominated en route to logging in the win.
Raymund Mangubat finished with 17 while Reyes added 13 for the Landmasters’cause. Jose Aldeguer also chipped in 10 markers.
Many-time league MVP Dave Lim led Goldberry with 13 points while Dave Ting added 12, but missed crucial freethrows down the stretch that would have sealed the win for them. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio