DEFENDING champions Cebu Landmasters ended their elimination round campaign with a bang as they grabbed the fourth seed following their 54-44 win over Gaisano Capital in the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Mivesa Cup last Sunday at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu basketball courts in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Left as an afterthought following their sluggish start to the season, the Landmasters steadily made their way back into the thick of things to eventually get the fourth spot and one of the coveted twice-to-beat bonuses in the quarterfinals.
The two teams actually finished with similar 6-3 (win-loss) records but the Landmasters bagged the fourth seed by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule.
Te led the Laandmasters 18 points while Chik added 14.
Meanwhile, Insular Square tied the mighty Goldberry Suites on top with 8-1 marks, after beating the San Jose Bakeshop, 56-43. However, they will settle for the second seed after Goldberry outlasted them, 57-54 last Aug. 4.
Goldberry ended its elimination round campaign with a default win over Milco.
The RDAK Transporters also nabbed their seventh win in nine games and the third seed after the San Remegio Aguilas failed to show up for their last game this season.
In other results, Alberto’s Pizza defeated winless A-Team, 63-36 and sent the latter to an early vacation along with San Remegio. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio