CESAFI @ 8
Bleacher Talk
August 3, 2008
CESAFI @ 8
The biggest basketball show in Cebu is back and it’s going to be even better! The CESAFI 2008 basketball tournament kicked off yesterday with the traditional opening ceremonies, but when the action starts, only one question will be asked. Will the University of the Visayas (UV) win an eighth straight championship?
The million dollar question will be highlighted even more this year as the Lancers are perceived to be fielding what could be one of their weakest line-ups in seven years of the CESAFI. This season is already being predicted to be the most competitive and balanced in terms of competition.
The irony of it all is that the Lancers are still the team to beat from the perspective of most CESAFI coaches. But if you look at the past three or four years of the biggest collegiate league south of Manila, you can’t help but notice how the invincibility that the Lancers carried with them is slowly but surely being torn down. In CESAFI 2007, the University of San Carlos (USC) and University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) scored wins against UV. USJR pushed UV to the limit in the semifinals, forcing a Game 3 rubber match, only to lose in the closing seconds of the game that could have gone either way. USC took two games in the best-of-five finals, but the experience and championship composure of the Lancers stood tall in Game 5. Southwestern University (SWU) also defeated UV, but did it in another tournament. And so we ask again: Will UV finally “fall down?”
For starters, everyone realizes that UV still owns the championship and it’s every other school’s task to take this championship away. Taking the title away from the Lancers this early is definitely premature as the real action still has to take place. The irony of it all is that even if Coach Boy Cabahug feels that the pressure is on them, I see it the other way around. Since many are already writing off UV’s chances of winning, the pressure is now being thrown on the shoulders of USJR, USC and SWU to get the job done. This is where the mind games are already being played. By accepting that they have a weaker line-up, it’s as if UV is already telling the other teams that they’re not that strong anymore. This will surely throw off the way one approaches a game against UV.
UV will no doubt be relying on Greg Slaughter to dominate the paint, but what others fail to remember is that the triple guard threat of Von Lañete, Ritchum Dennison and Chris Diputado is back. Harlow Villanil is also back in the groove a year older in terms of experience. The Lancers appear to be weaker in the frontline on paper, with only Edrian Lao filling the vacuum left by the departure or Rino Berame, Ariel Mepaña, Eduardo Arda and Michael Luga.
For USJR, the timing couldn’t be riper for eight returning seniors led by Jan Malinao to win a first CESAFI championship. The Jaguars were seconds away from a finals stint last year, but breaks and playoff jitters got the better of them. We an expect a more explosive year from guards Armand Ponce, Lyndon Gudez and the returning Luther Justiniani, while Mannie Gabas and Malinao will be expected to control the shaded lane.
Don’t be fooled if you’ll hear about SWU being only a sophomore team in the league. They’re full of experience and have always done well against UV, USC and USJR in games outside the CESAFI. The big challenge for the Cobras is to defeat these powerhouses in a regular CESAFI game. Eric Zanoria is back along with “rookies” Alfred Belande and Cleford Maguate. Another key to SWU doing well will have to be the consistency of point guard Eliud Poligrates.
At the USC camp, two-time MVP Enrico Llanto is still smarting from two straight unsuccessful finals appearances that he wants one more shot on his final year. The biggest news is that Niño Ramirez is no longer eligible to play, but the arrival of 6-4 Fil-Austrlian John Emel Rowe has been the talk of the town at the Warriors’ camp. Fellow rookie Lord Alfred Vitug and Cid Cortes are also expected to strengthen the rest of the core group from last year’s team.
UC will welcome the return of 6-8 Junmar Fajardo, but the surprise could come from Edward Pao and Kevin Quilantang, two players coming from the network of ex-UC player Rey Yncierto who’s based in the U.S. With the loss of Alain Abellanosa and Jonathan Canceran, UC is in search of a leader who can carry the youth-filled team.
Over-all, the talk is that it’s anybody’s game among five teams: UV, USJR, SWU and USC, with UC as a darkhorse. Don Bosco, USPF and CIT will play the spoilers’ role anew and could score an upset if any of the top five teams have an off-night.
This is it. The main event is on. With UV defending its seventh championship and four contenders slugging it out to outseat the champs, it sure looks like another banner year for the CESAFI.
oOo
Time-out: I would like to commend Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco and the officials of Liloan who did a great job in hosting Wednesday’s boxing event “Rambulan sa Liloan.” Crowd control for the free-to-the public event was perfect and the people of Lilo-an were cooperative spectators. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
August 3, 2008
CESAFI @ 8
The biggest basketball show in Cebu is back and it’s going to be even better! The CESAFI 2008 basketball tournament kicked off yesterday with the traditional opening ceremonies, but when the action starts, only one question will be asked. Will the University of the Visayas (UV) win an eighth straight championship?
The million dollar question will be highlighted even more this year as the Lancers are perceived to be fielding what could be one of their weakest line-ups in seven years of the CESAFI. This season is already being predicted to be the most competitive and balanced in terms of competition.
The irony of it all is that the Lancers are still the team to beat from the perspective of most CESAFI coaches. But if you look at the past three or four years of the biggest collegiate league south of Manila, you can’t help but notice how the invincibility that the Lancers carried with them is slowly but surely being torn down. In CESAFI 2007, the University of San Carlos (USC) and University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) scored wins against UV. USJR pushed UV to the limit in the semifinals, forcing a Game 3 rubber match, only to lose in the closing seconds of the game that could have gone either way. USC took two games in the best-of-five finals, but the experience and championship composure of the Lancers stood tall in Game 5. Southwestern University (SWU) also defeated UV, but did it in another tournament. And so we ask again: Will UV finally “fall down?”
For starters, everyone realizes that UV still owns the championship and it’s every other school’s task to take this championship away. Taking the title away from the Lancers this early is definitely premature as the real action still has to take place. The irony of it all is that even if Coach Boy Cabahug feels that the pressure is on them, I see it the other way around. Since many are already writing off UV’s chances of winning, the pressure is now being thrown on the shoulders of USJR, USC and SWU to get the job done. This is where the mind games are already being played. By accepting that they have a weaker line-up, it’s as if UV is already telling the other teams that they’re not that strong anymore. This will surely throw off the way one approaches a game against UV.
UV will no doubt be relying on Greg Slaughter to dominate the paint, but what others fail to remember is that the triple guard threat of Von Lañete, Ritchum Dennison and Chris Diputado is back. Harlow Villanil is also back in the groove a year older in terms of experience. The Lancers appear to be weaker in the frontline on paper, with only Edrian Lao filling the vacuum left by the departure or Rino Berame, Ariel Mepaña, Eduardo Arda and Michael Luga.
For USJR, the timing couldn’t be riper for eight returning seniors led by Jan Malinao to win a first CESAFI championship. The Jaguars were seconds away from a finals stint last year, but breaks and playoff jitters got the better of them. We an expect a more explosive year from guards Armand Ponce, Lyndon Gudez and the returning Luther Justiniani, while Mannie Gabas and Malinao will be expected to control the shaded lane.
Don’t be fooled if you’ll hear about SWU being only a sophomore team in the league. They’re full of experience and have always done well against UV, USC and USJR in games outside the CESAFI. The big challenge for the Cobras is to defeat these powerhouses in a regular CESAFI game. Eric Zanoria is back along with “rookies” Alfred Belande and Cleford Maguate. Another key to SWU doing well will have to be the consistency of point guard Eliud Poligrates.
At the USC camp, two-time MVP Enrico Llanto is still smarting from two straight unsuccessful finals appearances that he wants one more shot on his final year. The biggest news is that Niño Ramirez is no longer eligible to play, but the arrival of 6-4 Fil-Austrlian John Emel Rowe has been the talk of the town at the Warriors’ camp. Fellow rookie Lord Alfred Vitug and Cid Cortes are also expected to strengthen the rest of the core group from last year’s team.
UC will welcome the return of 6-8 Junmar Fajardo, but the surprise could come from Edward Pao and Kevin Quilantang, two players coming from the network of ex-UC player Rey Yncierto who’s based in the U.S. With the loss of Alain Abellanosa and Jonathan Canceran, UC is in search of a leader who can carry the youth-filled team.
Over-all, the talk is that it’s anybody’s game among five teams: UV, USJR, SWU and USC, with UC as a darkhorse. Don Bosco, USPF and CIT will play the spoilers’ role anew and could score an upset if any of the top five teams have an off-night.
This is it. The main event is on. With UV defending its seventh championship and four contenders slugging it out to outseat the champs, it sure looks like another banner year for the CESAFI.
oOo
Time-out: I would like to commend Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco and the officials of Liloan who did a great job in hosting Wednesday’s boxing event “Rambulan sa Liloan.” Crowd control for the free-to-the public event was perfect and the people of Lilo-an were cooperative spectators. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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