Green weekend of sports

It’ll be a sports kind of weekend coming up at De La Salle Zobel in Alabang and De La Salle University on Taft Avenue. There’s no better way to spend Saturday and Sunday with the family than playing sports, staying fit and being health-conscious.

At Zobel, La Salle is hosting the Br. Ceci Cup, a multi-sports festival named in honor of the beloved Christian Brother who passed away in 2009 at the age of 65. The Br. Ceci Cup is now on its 11th year and made its debut as a football conclave organized by La Salle coach Hans Smit when Br. Ceci Hojilla, a long-time adviser of student-athletes and a former basketball coach, was still alive. With Br. Ceci’s passing, all the more the yearly event has become significant as a tribute to the man who is immortalized by his statue on the Zobel campus.

Br. Ceci, a former principal at La Salle Academy in Iligan and La Salle Bacolod, was a symbol of a Christian Brother for all seasons, always ready to lend a helping hand or offer a shoulder for anyone to cry on or give an encouraging tap on the back of athletes about to compete in the field of battle. To this day, a lot of La Salle athletes remember Br. Ceci in their prayers before and after games, saying “St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us, Our Lady Queen of Victory, pray for us, Br. Ceci, pray for us, leave Jesus in our hearts, forever.”

Br. Bernie Oca, president of De La Salle Zobel, said he expects at least 2,000 athletes from some 50 schools to participate in about 15 events over two weekends, starting tomorrow, in the Br. Ceci Cup. “It’s all about family, wellness, camaraderie, sportsmanship and being health-conscious,” said Br. Bernie. “We’re excited that the Br. Ceci Cup has grown from a football festival to a multi-sports event now being held over two weekends.” A fun-run around the Zobel campus will kick off the festivities tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. Among the sports in the calendar are basketball (U-15 boys, U16 girls), judo, karate, taekwondo, football, volleyball, futsal, swimming, tennis, table tennis, badminton, baseball, softball and frisbee. There are plans to include fencing, cheerdancing and gymnastics in future Br. Ceci Cups.

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Former La Salle varsity player and coach Gee Abanilla is the director in-charge of basketball. His son Kit, 14, is in Grade 9 at Zobel and plays on the La Salle aspirants team. Parents of student-athletes are assigned to oversee specific events in the festival organized by the Sports Development Foundation of the Zobel Parents Association. Another parent Jake Pena, supervising football, is the head of the Sports Development Foundation.

According to Br. Bernie, Zobel has a student population of 4,200, including 2,000 in high school. What’s amazing is half of the high school population is involved in varsity sports. “When we hold a high school pep rally, half of our students are in La Salle uniform,” said Br. Bernie. “It’s a wonderful development. About 1,000 of our high school students represent La Salle in sports. The other half is into the arts, culture, drama, cheerdancing and other forms of activity so that we’re turning out well-rounded high school graduates.”

Abanilla, team manager of the San Miguel Beer PBA team, has invited PBA players to grace the opening ceremonies tomorrow. A special guest is strength and conditioning coach Kirk Collier of Barangay Ginebra. About 10 teams will play in the boys division and at least eight in the girls category. “We’re very excited to host the basketball event,” said Abanilla. “About 80 percent of the teams come from outside Zobel like Southridge, Southville, San Beda Alabang and La Salle Canlubang. Coach Jay Legacion of Southridge is bringing in a club team of U15 boys. We want the Br. Ceci Cup not only to be a friendly gathering but also a competitive event.”

An added feature of the Br. Ceci Cup is a photography contest staged by the Zobel Student Council. The contest is open to Zobel students and photographs of the two-weekend event will be exhibited with prizes awarded to the best portrayals.

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Br. Bernie said the Br. Ceci Cup is an Olympic-style celebration with the festive trappings of a school fair. “Tomorrow (Saturday) is actually a make-up day for our students,” he said. “But there will be no classroom sessions. So we expect a large attendance on campus.” Abanilla said the Br. Ceci Cup is supported by sponsors Petron, San Miguel Corp., Smart, Dexter’s Pizza, Globe and Makati Medical Center.

Over at Taft, La Salle will host a whole-day Special Olympics event called “For The Kids” through its social development arm Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) this Sunday. Some 700 physically and mentally challenged kids are participating in a day of sports, fun and care. La Salle’s varsity athletes will serve as timers, officials and coordinators in some 15 events lined up for the contestants. Over 1,000 student volunteers are being mobilized for the affair. Br. Bernie said the event is usually held on the Feast of the Sto. Nino but this year, it was moved to a later date because of the Papal visit. The late Br. Andrew Gonzalez started this outreach program several years back and it’s since been an annual activity.

Meanwhile, San Beda College is calling on all alumni and Bedan friends to join the San Beda Red and White Golf Tournament at Southwoods Golf and Country Club on Jan. 27. Shotgun tee-off is set at 8:30 a.m. Registration is now open at the San Beda Alumni Office care of Wilma at Tel. No. 735-5995 or Cell No. 0917-8072222.