UC vs USJ-R double-header to open CESAFI Season 14

CEBU, Philippines -  The 14th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. will kick off with an exciting double-header featuring the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars against the University of Cebu Webmasters on August 2 at the Cebu Coliseum.

As usual, the traditonal 'Grand Palabas' will usher in the opening salvo of Cebu's premiere inter-school athletic league. The other highlight of the star-studded affair is the selection of Miss CESAFI both in high school and college divisions.

Games proper will commence at 4 p.m., with the USJ-R Baby Jaguars taking on the Junior Webmasters. Their collegiate counterparts will clash in them main attraction at 5:30 p.m.

For the first time since CESAFI's inception in 2000, only six teams will take part in the collegiate battle as the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers take a leave of absence this season.

The University of the Visayas Green Lancers are raring to defend their title, but their journey is expected to face rough-sailing with the formidable Southwestern University Cobras standing on their path.

The other contenders are the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats and the University of San Carlos Warriors.

They will play in a double round robin format in the classification phase. The top four will proceed into the semifinals wherein the top two qualifiers enjoy twice-to-beat incentives. The winners will then clash for the championship in a best-of-five series.

On the other hand, the secondary cage wars feature nine teams. Aside from UC and USJ-R, the other competing squads are the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Blue Eagles, Cebu Eastern College Dragons, USC Baby Warriors, UV Baby Lancers, CIT-U Wildkittens, USPF Baby Panthers, and Don Bosco Technology Center Greywolves.

They will take on each other following a single round robin format in the elimination. The highest ranked team will advance outright into the semifinals, while the rest will go through a quarterfinal playoffs except for the two tailenders who will head directly to the exit. Teams no. 2, 3, and 4 will have a twice-to-beat advantage. 

A double round robin format will be applied in the semis, with the top two finishers sluggint it out for the title in a best-of-three showdown.

There is no defending champion in the secondary division as the tournament was aborted last year in the wake of the civil case filed by the parents of USC player Scott Aying against the league.

Aying has been disqualified to play in the tournament for failing to comply with the eligibility rules, but Aying's parents turned to legal court for help. The Regional Trial Court, through Judge Simeon Dumdum, Jr., has ruled in favor of the Ayings, but the CESAFI stood pat on its decision, thus, the stalemate that hasn't been resolved until now. (FREEMAN)