INSULAR Square secured solo second place in the standings after it outlasted the RDAK Transporters, 59-47, in the ongoing Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Mivesa Cup at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu basketball courts in Canduman, Mandaue City last Sunday.
Insular Square led from start to finish to win its sixth game against just one loss and stay a game ahead of both RDAK and Gaisano Capital, who now share third place with identical 5-2 (win-loss) records.
Job Shan and Leigh Dixon led the winning squad with 13 points apiece with the latter adding nine rebounds. Antonio Datan chipped in 12 markers in a balanced scoring attack that made up for the absence of versatile guard Ed Macasling.
Gaisano Capital, on the other hand, beat Alberto’s Pizza, 66-48, to force the tie at third place.
Gaisano Capital raised its game another notch in the second canto, where it outscored Alberto’s 14-4, to take a 27-14 lead into halftime, a lead that it would not relinquish until the final buzzer.
Frank Dinsay paced Gaisano with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while Pocholo Lao added 11 points, six boards and six dimes.
Goldberry Suites, though, remains atop the leaderboard with an unblemished 7-0 record after it manhandled San Jose Bakeshop, 79-56.
The writing was clearly on the wall as early as the first period as Goldberry zoomed off to a 29-11 lead en route to registering the lopsided win.
San Jose fell to 2-5. Justin Huang had another awesome outing and led Goldberry with 25 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
In other results, the San Remegio Aguilas finally barged into the win column as they won their first game of the tournament with an 81-70 win over the A-Team.
Guard Serg Go Bui exploded for 33 points and an incredible 25 rebounds to lead the Aguilas to their lone win in the tournament against six losses. The A-Team stumbled to its seventh consecutive defeat./correspondent jonas panerio