CESAFI season 24 opening

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs will take center stage in the opening games of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 on September 21 at the Cebu Coliseum.

In the season-opener, the Baby Mustangs under the tutelage of coach Serg Alburo will make their debut in the high school division of Cebu’s premiere inter-school athletic league against the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Blue Dragons.

Afterwhich, their big brothers in the college level will square off against the Benedicto College Cheetahs in the main game.

Last year, the Mustangs mentored by Paul Alelu Flores, a two-time UAAP champion during his glory days with the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, exited with a decent 4-6 win-loss record in their maiden CESAFI appearance.

This time, the Mustangs are aiming high with eyes on the Final Four.

Despite losing three key players in Kin Dayday, Jerome Arboiz, and Kurt Almendras, Mustangs team manager Marc Malazarte is highly confident of achieving their target with the help of their new acquisitions namely Earl Laniton, Jericho Montecalvo, Jack Roa, Franz Aballe and Carl Torion, son former PBA star Jimwell Torion.

Moreover, the Mustangs still have their one-two punch in Paulo Dalumpines and Keaton Taburnal to compliment their other holdovers from last season such as Wes Malazarte, James Gelig, Red Recimiento, Jonathan Vanguardia, Jhay Castro, Yzah Dugaduga, Jray Casinillo, Junel Colubio, Dale Otero, and Lawrence Cacanog.

“We will come prepared every game and give the CESAFI and of course the Mustangs fans a good showing each time we hit the court,” said Malazarte, who is also the CRMC Athletic Director. “Considering this is the last dance for coach Alelu and me, we will be giving our all hoping for a Final Four finish.”