USC & UV

CESAFI Finals 2007. This is what basketball is all about. And I’m pretty sure Dr. James Naismith will agree with us if he had been part of the ongoing championship series between USC and UV. As I write this column, the opening tip-off of Game 5 is about to take place, so I’m sure you would’ve read somewhere else here who won the championship.

And so I ask: Why is the ongoing USC-UV CESAFI Finals the biggest draw of local sports these days?

Given the scenario, there doesn’t seem to be a logical reason why one would want to watch the games. There is no air-conditioning. It’s hot, cramped and stuffy. Yet the Cebu Coliseum is packed to the rafters. You won’t see TV cameras, a row full of photographers, a VIP row or a special table for the press. No indicators that it’s a big league thing. And the highlight of all this is that it’s all absolutely commercial-free! No streamers of cell phone companies, no halftime gimmicks care of a sponsor, no TV commercial breaks. But if you step into the Cebu Coliseum, you can literally feel the tense (and wild) atmosphere of the biggest show in town.

And the crowd! It’s mad. It’s mayhem. It’s almost surreal. It’s simply awesome. No other crowd can match the screaming loyal fans of UV and USC. Both sides have turned the coliseum into a cheering match and I’m sure that the level of noise has already reached record levels even if there is no official tool to measure this. It’s plain obvious and based on common sense.

No other basketball event in 2007 has been able to draw this kind of madness and mayhem. Not even the PBA. The CESAFI Finals is undeniably the biggest basketball show in town.

And iT’s all because the CESAFI is all about pure and unadulterated basketball. No more, no less. Let’s give credit where it’s due. USC has risen to the occasion to prove that a David can indeed beat a Goliath. They’re out to show the world that the school doesn’t need a massive basketball program to make its presence felt in the local basketball family. They’re out to prove that a roster of ordinary, regular everyday students can match up against a basketball power. And since fans always love the underdog, they’ve done a great job of living up to the tag.

For UV, they’re out to make a statement that seven is heaven. Winning seven straight CESAFI trophies is what their season is all about, and they’re not backing down from this goal. Destiny and legacy are the goals that UV would like to achieve as they stretch their goals. The tougher the better. If they’re going for a decade of dominance, then the number “7” is a crucial link to this goal.

In the end, fate will dictate that the team with the nobler and realistic goal will eventually come out on top.

Both sides don’t have anything more to prove. For USC, I take my hat off and make a deep bow of reverence. Never before was USC expected to make it to a championship series. Each time a CESAFI or CAAA season is announced, USC never figures to be in talks about title favorites. But they’ve reached the finals for two straight years. The unique coaching tandem of Jay Ramirez and Mike Reyes has developed a system that has brought the best out of a bunch of regular athletes who are head and shoulders much smaller than the opposition.

On a personal note, I’d like to see USC come out on top just to prove that a school known for academic excellence can also be tops in sports. It’s a tall order, but a USC championship will be a trigger for all other schools that they too, can do the same thing. In the end, it will benefit the entire league as all schools will now be saying, “If they can do it, I can do it, too.”

UV’s drive for destiny has been tested and pushed to the limit this year. After two losses to USJ-R and two more to USC in the finals, UV has suddenly been brought down to earth and made to take a serious look at the mirror. The semifinals and finals have been a major test of character for UV. Win or lose, I’m sure UV has finally realized that it’s not asy being # 1 with everyone going for their throats. But this is also an opportunity to prove that they can even get stronger as a sports power and leader.

As the basketball tournament comes to a close, CESAFI’s contribution to local basketball is now simply unmatched and will be a tough act to follow. USC and UV have been the lead stars in this show and deserve our gratitude and praise.

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Time-out: Watch Manny Pacquiao display his basketball moves at the MP Cup Basketball Tournament at the USC Main Gym today at 2:30pm.

You can reach me at [email protected].