CESAFI to hold pre-season games billed as 1st Smart Visayas Basketball Tournament

By: Gabby Malagar

Cesafi preseason basketball tournament kicks-off next month. (Cesafi photo file)

To keep the teams upbeat and have their players ready for the forthcoming school-based tournament, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) is organizing a pre-season tournament known as 1st Visayas Smart basketball tournament scheduled on May 14 at the Cebu Coliseum.

So far, a total of nine teams have confirmed participation—seven are all CESAFI members and two teams from Bohol namely; BIT International College (formerly Bohol Institute of Technology) and Holy Name University.

The seven CESAFI-member schools who sent their coaches and team representatives during a meeting this morning (April 12) at the Cebu Coliseum function room presided by CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. are, reigning champion University of San Carlos, runner-up University of the Visayas, Southwestern University, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of Cebu, Cebu Institute of Technology-University and the University of Southern  Philippine-Foundation.

Those who attended the meeting were Fr. Adriano Ocariza, SVD representing the USC Warriors, athletic director Chris Mejarito of the UV Green Lancers, Bong Begontes of the SWU Cobras coaching staff, UC high school coach Joever Samonte, coach Jun Noel of the USJR Jaguars, athletic director Alex dela Torre of the CIT-U Wildcats and coach Albert Alocillo of the USPF-Panthers. Also present were UC team manager Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo, UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca and Wildcats coaching staff Bembem Alcaraz.

Representing the BIT International College was Dionisio A. Balite, Jr. son of school president Dionisio, Sr. and Kim Denno C Cirujales of the NHU. Two other teams from Bohol have reportedly showed interests of joining–the University of Bohol and the Philippine Maritime Institute but there is no confirmation yet received by Tiukinhoy.

Since two teams form Bohol are participating, Tiukinhoy said he is tapping some shipping companies as sponsors to help the league in saving funds.

Tiukinhoy said he had already been assured by Smart of P/500 thousand pesos but he will try his best to get more sponsors to run the league smoothly and whatever expenses left for the payment of the referees, table officials and gym rentals, he will use it as prizes of which he is targeting at least P/50 thousand to P/100 thousand maximum to help the teams defray the cost of their expenses especially if the games are held in Bohol.

However, Tiukinhoy said there is no commitment from his side so far about the cash prizes but he assured the teams will get incentives should the sponsors are coming in.

Games are played on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There are two games played during Tuesdays and Thursdays and four game played on Saturdays and Sundays.

The teams will follow a single round robin series with top four teams to advance into the semifinals and since this is a CESAFI-sanctioned league, the CESAFI rules will apply if matters of fines and suspension are deemed necessary.

Only qualified players for the CESAFI upcoming season in August are allowed to play and each team is allowed to hire one import to spice up the tournament.

About the writer

Gabriel G. Malagar is   known as “Gabmal”  in the local media industry. He is  a  veteran  and multi-awarded sportswriter for more than two decades. He is a member of the Sports Association of Cebu (SAC) as well as in the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalist (CFBJ).