‘SWU among top teams in 2011 Cesafi caging’

The signing of a champion coach and the influx of several blue-chip rookies have pushed the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras to elite status.

Or so say some coaches as the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) prepares for its 11th season, which begins tomorrow afternoon at the Cebu Coliseum.

After years of manning the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños to many championships in different leagues, multi-titled head coach and Cebu City Councilor Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba has now taken the challenge of bringing back the Cobras to their glory days.

Tasked to help him achieve that feat are 6-foot-6 Cameroonian Justin Aboude and 6-foot-4 Fil-Am forward Henry Rivera.

During the Cesafi press conference yesterday at the Cafe Laguna at the Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu, several coaches were quick to point out how dangerous SWU can be come tournament time.

Felix Belano, the head coach of the nine-time champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, and Ryan Betia, assistant coach of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, echoed these sentiments.

“They really are a very strong team. They have a very balanced lineup,” said Betia, when asked to single out one team that could go all the way towards the title currently being held by the University of Cebu Webmasters.

Alcoseba kept expectations at a minimum and said that as of now, they are just targeting a slot in the “Final Four.” From there, he said anything can happen.

This marks the first time that Alcoseba will be coaching in the Cesafi, after manning the Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) Stallions more than a decade ago in the defunct Cebu Amateur Athletic Association.

“If you love it [coaching], dili jud ta mubiya maski unsa pa na na level. Karon nga naa nata sa Cesafi, makatabang ta not only as a coach but also as a person,” said Alcoseba, who is set to go up against his current player in Belano and assistant coaches in Mike Reyes and Lawrence Merced, both of USC.

Meanwhile, the Webmasters are ready for a hectic season not just with the Cesafi but also with their upcoming stint representing the country in the 26th Universiade Games 2011 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

“Dapat magproblema sila kay kami man ang champions. It’s an advantage for us kay nakaduwa na mi sa finals. Ang problema na lang is ang pagbalik,” said UC head coach Rhoel Gomez, whose team will once again be bannered by reigning MVP and National Collegiate Player of the Year, 6-foot-10 Junemar Fajardo.