Barangayan substitution patteren opposed

TROUBLE APPEARS to be brewing on the horizon long before the latest edition of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partner’s Cup has even began after Southwestern University head coach and Cebu City councilor, Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba expressed his displeasure over the use of the “barangayan” substitution pattern.

Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, the chief organizer of the annual tournament that has now become a pre-season competition for the different Cesafi member schools, recently confirmed that they are sticking to the usage of the “barangayan” substitution pattern,  which stipulates that five different players will play in each of the first, second and third periods. The normal substitution pattern will be used only in the fourth canto.

“As the organizers, we will stick to the ‘barangayan’ to give chance to all the players to play in the elimination round,” said Tiukinhoy.

Alcoseba, a champion coach who steered the once-floundering Cobras to a finals appearance last season, already voiced his displeasure over the use of this pattern during the tournament’s first organizational meeting several weeks ago. When told about Tiukinhoy’s stand, Alcoseba said he cannot have 15 players on his roster as he only intends to have 12 in time for the opening of the new season in July.

“I cannot have 15 players. Wala mi problema if I had 15 but I don’t right now. Our recruits will be arriving in May pa so when the Partner’s Cup starts, I will only have 12 players,” said Alcoseba, who added that it was practical for his team not to have 15 players for several reasons./Correspondent Jonas Panerio