CESAFI Season 12 kicks off this pm

CEBU, Philippines - The best and brighest stars of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. will converge today as the CESAFI Season 12 kicks off with another elaborate rites at the Cebu Coliseum. Cebuano basketball legend Julian Macoy, the oldest coach in CESAFI history, will try to steer his former team - the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors - to a rare season-opening victory as they go up against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) in the main game at 6 pm.

Their high school counterparts, the Baby Warriors and the Baby Jaguars, will collide in the preliminary scheduled at 4:30 pm.

Prior to the hardcourt hostilities, a grand and colorful opening bash will take place highlighted by the presentation of cultural dances from each participating school and the selection of the Ms. CESAFI 2012.

A total of seven teams are seeing action in the collegiate division led by defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and nine in the secondary level bannered by the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers.

In his coaching debut, Macoy faces a tall order as he has only four holdovers from their last year's line-up namely June Michael Cantonao, Nilton John Otida, Chino Uy and Dominic Adlawan.

The Jaguars of coach Edito Salacut, on the other hand, are more intact with the presence of Jason Olbedado, Abulaiz Suliman, Renato Abing, Banjo Capillar, Medjet dela Rama and Wilkins Sanchez. (FREEMAN)