Cesafi puts on hold eligibilty status of 3 import wannabes
With the University of the Visayas Green Lancers fighting fire with fire after getting their own African import to bolster their championship campaign in the upcoming 12th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament, league commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy slowed things down as he awaits advice from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding some immigration issues.
This was the standing point in what was largely, an uneventful day during the screening of the basketball athletes that are set to participate in the tournament, yesterday at the University of San Jose-Recoletos. The Cesafi will open on July 29 at the Cebu Coliseum.
UV recently recruited 6-foot-8 center, Steve Cedric Akomo, to help them in their bid to reclaim the title after ruling the league in its first nine years. Southwestern University, UV’s bitter rival for many years, already has in their fold, Ben Mbala, a former MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Africa.
Both UV and SWU submitted their respective players’ credentials yesterday but Tiukinhoy is keeping their eligibility on hold until such time that the CHED regional director, Dr. Amelia Biglete, whom the latter sent a letter to, will advise him if the two foreigners are allowed to enroll without student visas. It has been learned recently that the two only have tourist visas.
“We are hopeful to hear from the CHED this week so that we can proceed and make a ruling,” said Tiukinhoy yesterday.
However, SWU athletic director, Ryan Aznar, was not worried about the development regarding his player as he said that Mbala, who is just 17, is not eligible for a student visa as he is still under the legal age for one.
Article continues after this advertisement“Dili pa lang jud na siya matagaan ug student visa since minor pa man siya. We do renew his tourist visa every three weeks and we have the necessary documents to back that up,” said Aznar.
Another player whose eligibility is being put on hold for the same reasons as Akomo and Mbala is the University of San Carlos’ Chinese import, Stephen Que.
