CESAFI Volleyball & Football

While the CESAFI may be known more for its basketball tournament, players and products, not to be outdone are the other events that quietly kicked off their respective games last week and go full blast through September and October. And like basketball, games are competitive with no clear solid favorite to win it all. The volleyball and football tournaments have rolled off and each has its own unique character and image.

CESAFI Volleyball is a brand waiting for the right moment to rise and I hope it does. One of the biggest advantages that volleyball has over basketball and football is that they are staging their games in the different gyms of the CESAFI member schools. In a way, they are adopting a modified home-and-away format that could (some say should) be used by other sports (maybe basketball?). Games for boys high school volleyball yesterday were played at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue. Games for girls high school volleyball will be played today at the USC Main Gym. The games move to SWU-PHINMA next week where they try out the Aznar Coliseum’s brand new maple flooring. Other venues include the USJR and USPF Gyms. If I had my way, I would also add the UV and Cebu Doctors’ Gyms too. For volleyball players, they get to have their own version of campus-hopping, an excellent way to promote the sport in different campuses and to bring the sport closer to the market: the student-audience.

With the right mix of advertising and campaigning, each host school should be able to generate crowds for their respective teams. At SHS-Ateneo de Cebu yesterday, a number of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu students who were at school watched their boys team win over Cebu Doctors’ University in straight sets, while others who were in school for another reason dropped by the Lux Oriens Gym to watch the games. The CYBL recently played an Under 18 basketball game between USPF and SMS-Boystown at the USPF Gym that had a loud audience cheering for their Baby Panthers. I hope all host schools can move to get their home crowd support even if games are played on weekends (non-class days).

The traditional powerhouses are expected to dominate volleyball. USC, USPF, USJR, UV and SWU-PHINMA (not in any particular order) are favored to snatch the top four spots of all divisions. A pleasant surprise/welcome are the teams from Cebu Doctors’ University, UCLM and Sisters of Mary School-Boystown. This illustrates the depth of talent available for volleyball despite the transfer of many to Manila to join UAAP and NCAA teams. I’m a firm believer that volleyball can steal a bit of the limelight from basketball if “packaged” and built as a brand by itself, a.k.a. “CESAFI Volleyball.” With its modified home-and-away format that can draw in large crowds, it’s a product ready for launch to popularity. Here’s a suggestion for the best-of-three finals. Make it home-and-away set-up with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and 3 (if needed) and the lower seed hosting Game 2.

CESAFI Football, like basketball, thrives on holding its games at one venue: the Cebu City Sports Center, undeniably the home of Cebu Football. The Azkals have played two international friendlies here and it has also hosted group-stage matches of an AFC President’s Cup. Every football program wants to play at the CCSC and before good-sized crowds, regardless if the pitch is more brown than green. In return, fans also love watching football matches at the CCSC. It’s the only stadium that gives the audience a feel of big-game football, watching from the bleachers with an excellent elevated view of the match, exactly the same kind of vantage point that one gets in the big leagues of football.

The unique thing about football is that even if it doesn’t apply the home-and-way format, they can generate relatively big crowds, even if compared to that of basketball. Have you ever been to a CESAFI high school version of a  “El Clasico?” That’s Don Bosco against SHS-Ateneo de Cebu. They’ve been at it for the past decade, with Don Bosco dominating the league and SHS-Ateneo winning in between DBTC titles. Their respective supporters troop to the CCSC for these games and all games have been competitive and fun to watch. This season though could be different, with USJR threatening to break the championships strung up by DBTC and SHS-Ateneo. Early on, SHS-Ateneo nipped DBTC, 1-0, but DBTC defeated USJR yesterday, 2-0. Then SHS-Ateneo plays USJR today. Also challenging the three is USC, a 1-0 winner over SHS-Ateneo last week. Talk about a loaded field! College football has been dominated by USC with everyone else trailing. But a CESAFI championship isn’t an automatic guaranty every year with everyone else out to topple the Warriors. This year’s college tournament is practically a USC vs. others campaign. The big question is which team can give USC a scare this season. With both the high school and college divisions going with double-round robin elimination rounds, all games are expected to be tight and entertaining. This is the unique branding of CESAFI Football: games at the CCSC, large partisan crowds and close games. It’s another gem waiting to be packaged.

Did you say basketball? Check out CESAFI Volleyball and Football and you’ll see what I mean.