The 2008 Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA) Best-of-Three Finals featured a classic match-up of experience against youth. Third seed Samsung, composed mostly of Batch 2005, marked its first ever Finals appearance by knocking out defending champion Transrover in the semis.  Pier One, whose line-up features the core group of Batch 1990, eliminated top seed Worldwide Steel. Pier One dictated the tempo right from the start as they clamped down on defense to ground Samsung’s dynamic duo of Antonio Datan and Eldie Cabahug, son of former PBA star Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.  Two-time SHABA MVP Theogene Lim kicked off Pier One’s offense in the first half as the veterans raced off to a 31-24 halftime lead.  MVP candidate Dennis Que, 3-time MVP Dave Lim & 2-time MVP Chad Canares ballooned Pier One’s lead to 10 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  But Cabahug, whose performance this year also warrants MVP consideration,  spearheaded Samsung’s rally early in the 4th quarter to cut the deficit to 4.  But the championship tested Pier One veterans rode on the shoulders of Lim & Que to thwart off Samsung’s comeback as they pulled away with a 59-46 victory. Pier One can win the title with a victory in Game 2, scheduled this Sunday at the old SHS-J Gym in Mango Avenue. Gametime is at 1:30 PM. Meanwhile, defending champion Transrover claimed 3rd place with a 67-45 rout over Worldwide Steel.

BOX SCORES:
Pier One (59) – T. Lim 15, Que 14, D. Lim 10, Canares 8, Ting 5, F. Tan 3, K. Tan 2.
Samsung (46) – Cabahug 16, Acha 8, Datan 8, Lao 7, Gajudo 3, Cimafranca 2, Tancinco 2.
Qtr. Scores: 13-10, 31-24, 44-34, 59-46.

Press Release courtesy of Mr. Richard Ho

Transrover (67) – Dela Calzada 20, Chua 18, Edquila 15, Co 6, Saso 5, De Jesus 3.
Worldwide Steel (45) – Sala 17, Reoma 15, Sia 6, Lim 3, Go 2, Tan 2.
Qtr. Scores: 20-7, 34-17, 49-29, 67-45.