CESAFI Board upholds Tiukinhoy's decision: Four men's volleyball coaches banned for life for staging "triple walkout"

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. Board of Directors the other night voted to uphold the decision of commissioner Felix “Boy” O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. imposing the lifetime ban on the volleyball coaches who staged a daring triple walkout during the semifinal games of the CESAFI men's volleyball tournament.

“The rule is harsh, but we can’t do anything because it is stated crystal clear in the CESAFI rules and regulations. I sympathize with the coaches that they were not advised properly from whoever encourages them to do such act,” said Tiukinhoy.

The decision was reached after the Board, with majority of the members present, heard the side of the volleyball coaches, tournament manager Ryan Aznar and the deputy commissioner for volleyball Dr. Danilo Villadolid.

The Board emphasized to the coaches that walking out is an unsportsmanlike conduct which can not be tolerated. Adequate remedies are provided for in the rules and regulations which the coaches could have availed without resorting to a walkout.

The Board also advised the coaches to read the rules and follow the procedures therein prescribed for the smooth holding of CESAFI games.

 “I know that they did not act on their own but somebody tell them to do it. I know it was premeditated because there was a meeting held in one of the CESAFI schools. I know that they have an underground meeting, because of some athletic directors were not invited to join in the meetings,” he added.

 “I cannot be happy in this job, it would mean that some of my decisions will make others sad also,” Tiukinhoy said.

“The decision of the Board was really based on the rules and guidelines in the CESAFI,” said Villadolid.

The Freeman tried to get the coaches’ side regarding the matter but they don't want to make any comment unless they receive the letter containing the decision of the CESAFI Board.

The ugly incident broke out when the men's volleyball teams of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, (USPF), University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Carlos staged a daring triple walkout in CESAFI volleyball semifinals last October 4 at the USC-Main gym.

The actuations of the three highly-respected institutions were in support of the protest they filed to CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. against Jade Dionson of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), which they deemed ineligible to see action in the tournament.

USJ-R of Cebu Sports Hall of Famer coach Grace Antigua was supposed to play against USPF that day but after warming up, USPF coach Cecil Jotojot and the rest of his crew packed their things up and proceeded to the exit door to the Josenians' surprise.

Moments later, USC of coach Roderick Arenasa and UV of coach Jonathan Aves followed suit in sympathy of USPF because they too were involved in lodging the protest.

Although he was already dropped from the USJ-R roster during the screening, Dionson still formed part of the Spiking Jaguars because Tiukinhoy and technical committee chief Dr. Danilo G. Villadolid signed Antigua's letter of request allowing Dionson to play for the team.

Dionson previously studied at USPF and was an active member of the school's varsity team under Jotojot but stopped schooling for two years to work. He decided to study again but enrolled at USJ-R this time.

For the concerned coaches, Dionson is not qualified to suit up for USJ-R because the CESAFI amended rules on transferees stipulate that a player needs a one-year residency before he can join his new team.

But Tiukinhoy viewed the issue on a different perspective saying that the said rule only applies to active players who decided to transfer to another member school. He insisted that it could not be applied to players who had stopped schooling for two years as in the case of Dionson.   (FREEMAN NEWS)