It appears that the new amendments to the rules and regulations of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) are causing more trouble and confusion.
This, after the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles found out that their incoming star guard, Rendell Senining, might not be able to suit up for the blue and white in the juniors division basketball tournament as the residency rule for transferees from Cesafi member schools was bumped up from one to two years.
The new amended rule states “any player of a CESAFI member school who transfers to another member school, is required a minimum residency of four semesters or equivalent to two years before he is allowed to play.” Before, the residency period of a transferee from one member school to another was just one year. According to Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, the new amended rules are effective immediately.
The immediate imposition of the rule leaves several players stranded, the most high-profile of which is Senining, a standout guard who donned the country’s colors for the Jr. NBA national team. He was also a key component for the Magis Eagles in their national title wins in the Milo BEST nationals and the NBTC National High School Championships.
Senining last suited up for the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars in 2010 before transferring to SHS-AdC. He served his residency last year and was expected to be the lead guard for the Magis Eagles in the upcoming Cesafi season.
SHS-AdC athletic director Rico Navarro took the new rules’ immediate imposition to task as it is common practice for amendments to have a certain grace period before they take effect.
“It is common industry practice that when new rules or revisions are introduced to a league’s ground rules, a grace period is imposed to give all teams a chance to adjust to the revisions and so that no team is unceremoniously penalized for doing something that was considered legit before,” said Navarro.
“While there are no questions that revisions are welcome, it must also be done with prudence and away from penalizing acts in retroactive manner,” added Navarro.
“My proposal is that when the new rules are implemented, this should apply if the players involved or are affected commit the act this school year (2012-2013) and beyond. “ /Correspondent Jonas Panerio