12th season of Cesafi hoop tourney gets underway

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

4 p.m. – USC vs. USJ-R (Jrs.)

5:30 p.m. – USC vs. USJ-R (Srs.)

AFTER MONTHS of anticipation, the best basketball squads this side of the country will be back in the grind once again as the 12th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.  kicks off today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Opening the hostilities today will be a pair of games in the high school and collegiate levels featuring the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and the University of San Carlos (USC), with both schools aiming to improve on their lackluster finishes last year.

In the seniors division, the pressure is on the Warriors to perform under the watchful eyes of newly installed head coach Julian Macoy, who replaced long-time head coach and basketball program director Mike Reyes in the offseason.

Reyes, the brother of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes, has transferred to the Southwestern University to join the coaching staff of his M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños boss Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.

Gone from the Warriors are their two leading scorers from last season in wingmen Giovanni Padillo and Sam Hermosa. Left to take on the scoring cudgels will be Mike Cantonao, who is expected to get help from veterans Nilton Otida, Carl Valencia and Nico Magat. USC will also see the debut of Chinese guard Stephen Que.

USJ-R is expected to bring the same kind of frenetic defense that folks have come to expect from fiery head coach Edito Salacut.

On offense, the Jaguars still have plenty of weapons in their arsenal led by Popoy Sulaiman, last year’s three-point shootout champion Banjo Capilar, power forward Miguel Tabaloc and James Regalado.

Before the games start, there will be grand opening ceremony starting at 2 p.m. featuring different dance presentations./Correspondent Jonas Panerio