Reigning collegiate, secondary champions to clash in Cesafi opener

THE brand-new season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) will open with games featuring the reigning champions in both the high school and college divisions on Aug. 7 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The University of Cebu Webmasters, the seniors class champions who dethroned the nine-time champs University of the Visayas Green Lancers last year, will open their title-defense against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars while the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, the surprise high school champions, will meet the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers in the opener of the juniors division.

The schedules were finalized yesterday during the basketball coaches’ meeting held at the campus of the hosts this season, USJ-R. Presiding over the meeting was Cesafi commissioner, Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy along with tournament managers Danny Duran and Julian Macoy.

This year’s basketball tournament is set to be even more exciting as the double round-robin format will be utilized in the elimination round in an attempt to give the teams more exposure especially after training hard for most of the year.

“The teams are really preparing very hard for the Cesafi tournament and we want to give that preparation its due with this format. The teams and their players will get to play more games and showcase their talents,” said Tiukinhoy.

The top four teams at the end of the double round-robin elims will advance to the semifinals. The top two finishers though, will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. The top seed will take on the fourth-ranked team while the second seed gets to play the third seed.

Meanwhile, an old rule wil be strictly enforced this season in the hope of curbing unsportsmanlike conduct.

Players or coaches who are ejected from the game will be made to pay a fine of P5,000 according to Tiukinhoy. Failure to pay would mean the erring player or coach will be barred to play in the tournament.

In addition, players or coaches who are ejected the second time, will be made to pay a fine of P10,000 and will be suspended for the rest of the season. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio