Title-seeking Cobras face eligibility problem with prized recruit Chris Dumapig

The championship bid of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras hit a snag way before it has even gotten off the ground as prized recruit Chris Dumapig has been deemed ineligible to play in the upcoming season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) because of his stint in the PBA Developmental League (D-League) last year.

This development happened with the amendment of several rules and regulations during the Cesafi Board meeting held recently.

One of the rules that has been amended states that “a player that has been paid in any professional league or semi-professional league such as PBA, PBL, Liga Pilipinas, PBA D-League, is not eligible to play in any Cesafi tournament.” Previously, the rule did not include the PBA D-League.

Dumapig is a Dipolog native who suited up for Centro Escolar University in the NAASCU and the Cafe France Bakers in the D-League last year.

The 6-foot-4 power forward was expected to be a vital cog in the Cobras’ Cesafi title hopes this year after they fell short in the finals last year.

SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar seethed at the recent ruling and vowed to make things right in the coming weeks so as to allow Dumapig to see action for the Cobras.

“We will prove them wrong. The D-League is not a professional league. Sa ngalan pa lang daan, it’s called a developmental league under the wing of the PBA. The players receive allowances and not salaries. We will try to secure a document from the PBA that will prove this,” said Aznar.

Head coach and Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba was also bothered with the news and also vowed to ensure that Dumapig gets to don the blue and orange of the Cobras.

“I talked to PBA commissioner Chito Salud about this during the recent PBA out-of-town game and he told me that the D-League is a developmental league,” said Alcoseba.

“How can we compete with the Manila teams and expect to do well if we don’t try to get the best players possible? Our main goal is the national collegiate title, not just the Cesafi championship.”

Pressed for comment while in Europe, Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy admitted that he has not yet seen the credentials of Dumapig but stood pat on the new ruling that bans PBA D-Leaguers from playing in the Cesafi.