Yayoy resigns as SWU head coach
SOUTHWESTERN University’s (SWU) champion head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba has announced his resignation from his position in order to focus more on his political career.
Alcoseba divulged the news to this writer in a phone conversation yesterday afternoon. He is currently hot on his campaign trail as he is running for a Provincial Board member seat representing the first district of Cebu in the upcoming elections.
Finding the right balance between coaching the Cobras and tending to his political career has apparently taken a toll on Alcoseba, leading to his decision to step down from his coaching seat.
“I just want to focus on my political career right now. My areas of responsibility range from Talisay City to Sibonga. So that alone is a challenge, distance-wise,” said Alcoseba. “Plus, I have my businesses to tend to. It’s a lot to juggle. Hence, I’ve come to the decision to step down as head coach.”
Recently, Alcoseba has been so preoccupied with the campaign that he has delegated the coaching duties of the team during the Filoil Fying V Preseason Tournament in Manila to his assistant coach Mike Reyes.
Though his tenure as head coach of SWU was brief, Alcoseba’s impact upon the program is indelible. He took over as head coach in 2011 and steered SWU to the finals that same year. The Cobras lost to the Junemar Fajardo-led University of Cebu Webmasters in a thrilling five-game series. The Cobras finally clinched their first and only title in the Cesafi last year, with a five-game conquest of the University of the Visayas.
SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar, did not see this decision coming especially with basketball team’s recent success.
“It really is up to the school’s management to decide whether or not they will accept his resignation. I feel that the team’s morale will surely be dampened by this development but we just have to respect his decision and move on from here,” said Aznar. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
