CEBU, Philippines – Former pro star Gilbert Demape is headed for a reunion with his alma mater as he has been tapped to coach the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildcats for the 2009 basketball season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).
This was revealed to The FREEMAN by CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. Demape will replace coach Alex de la Torre, who will now serve as team consultant for the collegiate and high school teams.
Demape, who hails from Brgy. Umapad, Mandaue City, led the Wildcats to the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA) finals in the late ’90s, but lost to the Cebu Doctors’ College (now CDU) Stallions of then coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.
Prior to that Demape-led CIT, the Felix Duhig batch of the Wildcats won the CAAA crown when they defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars.
During his high school days, Demape also powered the Wildkittens to the Zonal championships by beating the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers. They then represented Cebu to the National Inter-Secondary Championships in San Pedro, Laguna.Their coach then was Romy Cal, now team consultant of CSD Builders based in Toledo City and head coach of the CSD Power Brokers.
Demape was the Wildcats’ leading scorer during his prime. Some of his teammates in CIT were Robert Ortega, Joseph Caparida, Jumie Ararao and Pedro Bacalso. His stint with the Manila Metrostars in the now defunct MBA catapulted him into playing in the PBA where he played for the Talk ‘N Txt Phone Pals.
The CIT administration led by president Gregorio Escario welcomed Demape with open arms, hoping that the Wildcats would be competitive enough under his tutelage. (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)