A tale of two Blue Dragons

CEBU, Philippines — Two teams carrying the name of the Blue Dragons will be competing in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament for the first time in its 23-year history.

They will not roar nor breathe fire against each other though as they will be seeing action in separate categories when the league’s 23rd season gets under way nine days from now.

The Blue Dragons of Cebu Eastern College (CEC) will strut their wares in the secondary level, while the Felipe R. Verallo Foundation College Blue Dragons from the City of Bogo in northern Cebu will show their stuff in the collegiate division.

There’s also another line that separates the two squads.

CEC’s Blue Dragons are longtime members, while the FRV Foundation College cagers are newcomers in Cebu’s premiere inter-school athletic league.

Since winning a historic crown in 2010 - CEC’s first and only championship behind the full backing of the school’s sports-minded alumni led by Chester Cokaliong, the Blue Dragons have been a fighting force in CESAFI under the tutelage of veteran coach Mark Tallo, a former PBA player, and his trusted lieutenant Rodmark del Rosario.

On the other hand, the FRV Foundation College Blue Dragons may be greenhorns but they could very well pull a surprise under the guidance of the ageless Norberto “Titing” Manalili, a decorated bench tactician both in the amateur and commercial ranks whose career spans for three decades now.

Interestingly, the two Blue Dragons will plunge into action right away in the season-opening games on September 23 at the Cebu Coliseum.

CEC will square off against the Don Bosco Greywolves in the preliminary match at 4 p.m. while FRV Foundation College will take on the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs in an exciting showdown of CESAFI debutants set at 5:30 p.m.