CEBU, Philippines - The semifinal round of the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament kicks off today at the Cebu Coliseum, but the biggest story of the day is the suspension of University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors assistant coach Junthy Valenzuela for the remainder of the season for his conduct that is inimical to the best interest of the league.
During their 79-69 win that eliminated the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters last Friday night at the USJ-R Basak Campus gym, Valenzuela was thrown out of the game for slamming and breaking a monobloc chair at the midcourt late in the second period.
Valenzuela lost his temper moments after USC cager Victor Rabat was hacked by UC's Kenneth Niones while going for a layup with 47.5 seconds to go before halftime and the Warriors led by five, 40-35. Niones was automatically ejected from the game for showing an intent to harm Rabat.
Instead of accepting the call, Valenzuela blew his top and showed his frustrations to the referees on the manner they officiated the game by smashing a monobloc chair on the floor.
CESAFI commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. said the actuations of Valenzuela have put a dark episode in the 13-year history of the league, prompting him to suspend the erring USC bench tactician for the rest of the season.
"The actuation of Junthy Valenzuela has no place in our CESAFI league. As assistant coach in a prestigious Catholic school and an ex-pro player at that, he should have been a role model to his players, alumni and to the school community he represented," said Tiukinhoy in an official statement sent to The Freeman via text message.
"Such behavior puts the CESAFI in a bad light and will not be tolerated and merits a sanction to ban him from being assistant coach of the USC team for the rest of the 2013-2014 basketball season," said Tiukinhoy.
When asked whether his decision is already final and executory or it still needs the approval of the CESAFI Board, Tiukinhoy answered:"As the commissioner of the league, I have the right to decide on that matter because it happened in the full view of spectators. If I don't act on it swiftly, that may serve as a bad precedent. This also serves as a warning to other coaches that we don't tolerate this kind of behavior."
Unless his decision will be overturned by the CESAFI Board, Tiukinhoy said Valenzuela's suspension will take effect right in USC's first semifinal assignment against the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers. Unfortunately for Valenzuela, their match versus UV is scheduled 6:15 tonight, leaving him no room to appeal Tiukinhoy's verdict.
Valenzuela couldn't be reached for comment as of this writing last night.
Interestingly, Valenzuela was slapped with a technical foul for excessive complaining during their fight-marred game they also won against UC, 67-64, last August 31 at the USC-Main Gym. In that tension-filled duel, three players were banished from the playing court – Charles Pepito and Dominic Adlawan of USC and Windell Santander of UC – for throwing punches while going after a loose ball just a few feet away from Tiukinhoy.
Without Valenzuela, Cebuano basketball legend Julian Macoy will take over the coaching reins for the Warriors as they battle the second-ranked UV Lancers, right after the undefeated defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras take on the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars at 4:30 pm.
In the juniors division semis, reigning title-holder Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS) Magis Eagles hope to extend their unbeaten run when they clash with the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons in the 1 pm opener, while the UV Baby Lancers and the USC Baby Warriors will mix it up at 2:45 pm. (FREEMAN)