UV, SWU are teams to beat

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, both armed with a formidable lineup that are superior in heft and height, are without question the teams to beat, but their rival coaches were unanimous in vowing to give them one big fight when the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 12 comes off the wraps this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

“We consider UV and SWU as the most difficult teams to beat,” said University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) athletic moderator Dioscoro Himotas in a press conference yesterday at the Linea Restobar in Cebu IT Park.

Cebuano basketball legend Julian Macoy, who will be debuting as chief bench tactician of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, echoed the same sentiment, saying that “they (UV and SWU) are above among us.” “Maybe an upset is coming but we don't know what may come,” said Macoy.

However, Himotas, Macoy and the rest of the coaches are one in declaring that they are hell-bent on giving the powerhouse squads a run for their money.

In the same breath, they expressed their readiness to unleash various weapons with hopes of containing UV and SWU's powerful arsenal beefed up by foreign cagers.

“Our main goal really is to give them a good fight so that the public will be entertained. That is something that we want,” said Himotas.

For USJ-R coach Edito Salacut, anything can happen more so thay they will give their best shot in every challenge they are faced with.

“The chance to make it to the top four is always there. If we're lucky enough to make it to the championship, then good for us,” said Salacut. “But we're ready. We have a secret on our defense how to contain their big them.

Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats consultant Alecks de la Torre said their running game is the strength of their team.

“The only thing we can promise is to give everybody a good fight. The only weapon that would be available for us is our running game. We will fight them toe-to-toe, shot-to-shot,” assured De la Torre.

For Macoy, he is counting on the big fighting heart of his wards.

“I inherited a smaller team, but I like their heart. If they play hard, I don't know what the outcome is but I'm sure their will give their best,” said Macoy, who made history in the local hoopdom for scoring 126 points in a game against the Cebu School of Arts and Trades (now Cebu Technological University) during his heydays with the USC in 1958.

Meanwhile, CESAFI commissioner Felix “Boy” O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. is a bit disappointed by the absence of coaches Felix Belano, Jr. of UV and Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba of SWU during yesterday's formal launching of the 12th CESAFI season.

“Well we have sent them invitation but to be honest, it's very hard to invite professional coaches. They think that they're higher than the CESAFI already.,” said Tiukinhoy.

Nevertheless, Tiukinhoy looks forward to a swashbuckling Season 12 of the premiere school-based athletic league in the Queen City of the South.

“With the presence of these foreign players (two from SWU and one each from UV and USC), I believe that more fans are coming to the Coliseum for the games,” said Tiukinhoy. “This is going to be a very exciting season for the CESAFI.” - THE FREEMAN