Kicking off Cebu sports in 2016

Each time a new year rolls around, we will ask what’s in store for Cebu Sports in the coming twelve months. And just like any other year, Cebu is kicking off the year in high gear already and not resting with a post-Christmas hang-over.

Last week, the Sinulog Fun Run was held, kicking off another year of weekly runs until the end of December. Nothing new here, is there? Shifting into higher gear is today’s Cebu City Marathon, an annual event that has now made its stamp in the running scene. It looks like it will be the only marathon per se, i.e. a 42 kilometer run this year, although I wouldn’t be surprised if another one is held aside from those ultra-marathons that are also run in the year. Under the management of the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), the CCM looks like it’s set to go for another 50 years. It has just about everything a marathon needs: quality runners, a pleasant, scenic but challenging course, on-course entertainment, hydration stations, volunteers, local government support, traffic marshals, fireworks, security and of course the local base of Cebu runners in  our extended season of Christmas/Sinulog. I’m pretty sure the organizers are now thinking of many ways to make it even bigger and better next year.

I get the feeling that the IT Park (with its new buildings coming up), may be too small of a venue for this big event. With the SRP blooming, and loads of space available, can we see a CCM there in 2017? I’m 100 percent sure that the SM Seaside City, Filinvest or even the Kasadya area would be more than willing to serve as hosts of the start/finish area.

The weekend also marks a heavy load of other sports events taking the Sinulog theme. In football, the 6th Sinulog Cup is ongoing, starting yesterday and ending today at the Don Bosco Technology Center football fields. A total of 150 teams are playing in the first tournament of the calendar under the guidance of the Cebu Football Association. The age groups or categories are Under 7, 9, 11, Under 13 Boys, Under 15 Boys, Under 15 Girls, Under 18 Boys, Under 18 Girls, Ladies Open Mens Open, Inter BPO, 38-above and 45-above category. The tournament will feature small-sided games of seven-a-side for the regular age groups. It’s like a festival of all Cebu football teams and is a fitting way to kick off 2016, a year that will bring in major changes in the way football will be managed.

The Cebu Football Association, in line with the thrusts of FIFA and the Philippine Football Federation, will be fade away and become a regional association under the new statutes laid out by the FIFA. I don't want to get too technical, but the new regional association will also be a gathering of the different stakeholders of the sport from school-based teams to commercial and community based teams, tournament organizers, coaches, referees, ladies football, futsal, beach football and patrons. This new set-up will surely mean more football action from 2016 onwards. The good news is that the football calendar will be just as busy as ever with football festivals scattered throughout 2016, and the major football tournaments coming up soon.

January is also the month of preparation for the various divisions in preparation for the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) which will be hosted by Naga. This was originally set for January 31-February 5, but it looks like this is postponed to February 7-12. The teams are deep in preparation, with Cebu City already a shoo-in to win the over-all title. With all the major schools with sports programs located in the city, it will be a miracle if they don’t win it all. The Cebu Province, Mandaue City, Bohol Province and Tagbilaran City are aiming to crowd Cebu City and are looking to score an upset. The latest development is the absence of Negros Oriental and its cities as they will be competing in the newly-formed Negros Island region for both Negros Occidental and Oriental. We wish the City of Naga all the luck and pray for a successful run of the games.

Other tournaments ongoing are the basketball tournaments of the NBTC Elite League, Cebu Youth Basketball League and the Cebu Hoops Ladies League. These aren’t as loud and as popular as the major tournaments but serve an important role in developmental basketball. The downside is the absence of tournaments for either the collegiate or commercial teams.

With all these, it’s no surprise that Cebu Sports is off and running. And we do all  amidst the feast of Señor Sto. Niño next week. Cebu is abuzz with the Sinulog activities with the novena Masses that are all packed, the procession on Saturday and the Sinulog grand parade on Sunday.

Pit Señor!

* * *

We take time out to ask all to pray for Msgr. Gerardo Jumao-as, the “grand old man” for those of us who grew up in Lutopan. He passed away this week at 97 years old. He was a role model of perseverance, fortitude and dedication. We owe a big part of our lives to Msgr. Gerry. Thanks for everything and please intercede for us up there in heaven.