CeSAFI 2009 Men's Basketball Schedule

2009 CESAFI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
SCHEDULE OF GAMES

DATE TIME LIGHT DARK DIVISION

8/1/2009 1:00 PM OPENING CEREMONIES
SATURDAY 4:00 PM USP-F vs SHS-J JUNIORS
5:30 PM USC vs USJ-R SENIORS


8/2/2009 1:00 PM UC vs USC JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM DBTC vs UV JUNIORS
4:00 PM DBTC vs USP-F SENIORS
5:30 PM UC vs UV SENIORS


8/4/2009 4:30 PM CIT vs USJ-R JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM CIT vs UC SENIORS


8/6/2009 4:30 PM CEC vs UC JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM USJ-R vs SWU SENIORS


8/11/2009 4:30 PM UV vs CEC JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM USP-F vs UC SENIORS


8/13/2009 4:30 PM USP-F vs USC JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM UV vs CIT SENIORS


8/15/2009 1:00 PM SHS-J vs CEC JUNIORS
SATURDAY 2:30 PM USJ-R vs DBTC JUNIORS
4:00 PM CIT vs USP-F SENIORS
5:30 PM UC vs USJ-R SENIORS


8/16/2009 1:00 PM USP-F vs UV JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM USC vs CIT JUNIORS
4:00 PM SWU vs DBTC SENIORS
5:30 PM USC vs UV SENIORS


8/18/2009 4:30 PM DBTC vs UC JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM DBTC vs UC SENIORS


8/23/2009 1:00 PM CEC vs USC JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM UV vs CIT JUNIORS
4:00 PM CIT vs USJ-R SENIORS
5:30 PM USP-F vs SWU SENIORS


8/25/2009 4:30 PM UC vs USP-F JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM USC vs USP-F SENIORS


8/27/2009 4:30 PM DBTC vs USC JUNIORS
TURSDAY 6:00 PM DBTC vs USC SENIORS


9/1/2009 4:30 PM USJ-R vs UV JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM USP-F vs UV SENIORS


9/6/2009 1:00 PM UC vs USJ-R JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM SHS-J vs DBTC JUNIORS
4:00 PM CIT vs DBTC SENIORS
5:30 PM UV vs SWU SENIORS


9/8/2009 4:30 PM USP-F vs CIT JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM USC vs SWU SENIORS


9/12/2009 1:00 PM USJ-R vs CEC JUNIORS
SATURDAY 2:30 PM USC vs SHS-J JUNIORS
4:00 PM SWU vs CIT SENIORS
5:30 PM USJ-R vs USP-F SENIORS


9/13/2009 1:00 PM DBTC vs CIT JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM UC vs UV JUNIORS
4:00 PM DBTC vs UV SENIORS
5:30 PM UC vs USC SENIORS


9/15/2009 4:30 PM USJ-R vs USP-F JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM USJ-R vs DBTC SENIORS


9/17/2009 4:30 PM UV vs USC JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM UV vs USJ-R SENIORS


9/19/2009 1:00 PM CIT vs CEC JUNIORS
SATURDAY 2:30 PM SHS-J vs UC JUNIORS
4:00 PM USC vs CIT SENIORS
5:30 PM SWU vs UC SENIORS


9/22/2009 4:30 PM CEC vs USP-F JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM CIT vs SHS-J SENIORS


9/24/2009 4:30 PM DBTC vs CEC JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM SHS-J vs USJ-R SENIORS


9/27/2009 1:00 PM USC vs USJ-R JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM USP-F vs DBTC JUNIORS
4:00 PM UC vs CIT JUNIORS
5:30 PM UV vs SHS-J JUNIORS


END OF ELIMINATION ROUND

QUARTER FINALS


9/29/2009 4:30 PM NO. 1 vs NO.8 JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM NO.1 vs NO.8 SENIORS


10/1/2009 4:30 PM NO.2 vs NO.7 JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM NO. 2 vs NO.7 SENIORS


10/4/2009 1:00 PM NO.3 vs NO.6 JUNIORS
SUNDAY 2:30 PM NO.4 vs NO.5 JUNIORS
4:00 PM NO.3 vs NO.6 SENIORS
5:30 PM NO.4 vs NO.5 SENIORS


10/6/2009 4:30 PM RESERVED FOR PLAY OFF
TUESDAY 6:00 PM RESERVED FOR PLAY OFF


10/8/2009 4:30 PM RESERVED FOR PLAY OFF
THURSDAY 6:00 PM RESERVED FOR PLAY OFF


10/11/2009 ALL STAR GAME
SUNDAY


SEMI FINAL BEST OF 3
GAME 1

10/13/2009 4:30 PM NO. 1 vs NO. 4 JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM NO.1 vs NO.4 SENIORS

GAME 1

10/15/2009 4:30 PM NO. 2 vs NO.3 JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM NO.2 vs NO.3 SENIORS

GAME 2

10/17/2009 1:00 PM NO.4 vs NO.1 JUNIORS
SATURDAY 2:30 PM NO.2 vs NO.3 JUNIORS
4:00 PM NO.4 vs NO.1 SENIORS
5:30 PM NO.2 vs NO.3 SENIORS


10/18/2009 4:30 PM GAME 3 IF NECESSARY
SUNDAY


FINALS (BEST OF 3 FOR 3RD PLACE/ BEST OF 5 FINALS)


10/20/2009 4:30 PM FOR 3RD PLACE JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM FOR 3RD PLACE SENIORS


10/22/2009 4:30 PM FOR 3RD PLACE JUNIORS
THURSDAY 6:00 PM FOR 3RD PLACE SENIORS


10/24/2009 1:00 PM FOR 3RD PLACE (GAME 3 -- JUNIORS
SATURDAY 2:30 PM FOR 3RD PLACE IF NECESSARY) SENIORS
4:00 PM GAME 1 FINALS JUNIORS
5:30 PM GAME 1 FINALS SENIORS


10/25/2009 4:30 PM GAME 2 FINALS JUNIORS
SUNDAY 6:00 PM GAME 2 FINALS SENIORS


10/27/2009 4:30 PM GAME 3 FINALS JUNIORS
TUESDAY 6:00 PM GAME 3 FINALS SENIORS


10/29/2009 4:30 PM GAME 4 FINALS (IF NECESSARY)
THURSDAY 6:00 PM GAME 4 FINALS (IF NECESSARY)


10/31/2009 4:30 PM GAME 5 FINALS (IF NECESSARY)
SATURDAY 6:00 PM GAME 5 FINALS (IF NECESSARY)

Canadian Collegiate Basketball All-Star Hits Town

Canadian collegiate basketball all-star and scoring leader Andrew Spagrud is in Cebu for a vacation and some training. The 6'8" engineering graduate from the University of Saskatchewan joined one Smart Gilas national developmental pool for men scrimmage while he was in Manila.

Spagrud, the 2004 CIS Rookie of the year is a 3-time CIS First Mythical Team member and 1-time Second Mythical Team member. In his senior year, Spagrud led the Canadian collegiate league in scoring with a norm of 21.8 points per game, was 2nd in rebounding with 9.9 caroms per outing, 2nd in steals with 2.53 swipes per game and 2nd in minutes played with 35.1 minutes per game.

Cebu Power Rankings, As of August 10, 2008

Rank	School	Remarks
1	University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars	Early favorites to win the 8th CeSAFI crown; had a solid pre-season build-up winning the La Fortuna Cup, the M. Lhuillier Cup and the Partners' Cup
2	Southwestern University Cobras	A rebuilding team trying to regain their elite stature in Cebu collegiate hoops. SWU have embarked on a massive search for talent that is slowly paying off.
3	University of San Carlos Warriors	Last year's CeSAFI runner-up, did not have a quite succesful pre-season but with 3 more recruits who have not played in the pre-season joining them led by the much talked about Emel Rowe
4	University of the Visayas Green Lancers	CeSAFI champions for the past 7 years but will be hard-pressed to repeat this year with a throng of big men gone. UV have become a lot smaller team with only Greg Slaughter left to man the post.
5	University of Cebu Webmasters	7th CeSAFI season performance was forgettable for this team. But prized slotman Junmar Fajardo is back and with 2 solid additions from California, UC is a major contender for the 8th CeSAFi crown.
6	Asian College of Technology Cyberknights	Solid system lacking in resources. This team could have ranked higher had they been allowed to compete in the CeSAFI.
7	Don Bosco Technical College Greywolves	Don Bosco's most remarkable finish was in last year's CeSAFI Partners' Cup finishing 3rd. This team has a solid core, they just need to get their acts together.
8	University of Southern Philippines Black Panthers	Once a perennial CeSAFI semifinalist but have been struggling with player defections lately. Early in the 8th CeSAFI season, they have shown they can keep up with a team like UV only to lose steam at endgame
9	Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats	It's going to be a long 8th CeSAFi season for CIT losing a 35-point game in their opener against USC.
10	Salazar College of Science & Institute of Technology Skyblazers	Still not admitted to the CeSAFI and had very little experience in competition.

Cebu's Premiere Collegiate Basketball League Opens August 2

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Incorporated(CeSAFI) is Cebu's premiere collegiate basketball competition and it will open this coming Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the New Cebu Coliseum with an explosive opening match pitting the protagonists of last season's Finals, the defending champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers and runner-up University of San Carlos Warriors.

The Lancers have become a lot smaller with the departure of veteran big men Ariel Mepaña, Rino Berame, Michael Luga and Eduardo Arda who were a key part in the Lancers' rotation last season. They have also demoted acrobatic forward Sylvester Tancongco to the reserve list for disciplinary reasons. In their place, UV tabbed Mindanao native Jerome Silva, a muscular 6'3" power forward. Acknowledging their need for speed and better ballhandling, the Lancers activated crack guards Phil Mercader and Harold Cincoflores, both former CeSAFI juniors MVP awardees. They also tabbed ex-Warrior Ahmann James Tagalog to provide veteran guard presence and added head coach Elmer Cabahug's son.

The Warriors on the other hand have started building on the success of the past 2 seasons despite losing in both Finals appearances to UV. They may have lost Niño Ramirez and his scoring but they have become a lot stronger with their new additions in 6'4" Fil-Aussie forward Emel Rowe, 5'10" ex-UV trainee Michael Cantonao, CeSAFi newcomers Cid Cortes and Jabby Bautista, as well as Alfred Vitug from Guam.

M. Lhuillier Organizes 2008 Summer Inter-collegiate Basketball Tournament in Cebu

Cebu collegiate basketball scene will again be action-filled as the 2008 M. Lhuillier Summer Basketball Tournament will start on May 10 at the New Cebu Coliseum. Eight teams will be participating in the summer tournament which can be seen as a buildup to the upcoming CeSAFI season. The teams are the UV Green Lancers, SWU Cobras, USC Warriors, USJ-R Jaguars, CIT Wildcats, DBTC Greywolves, SCSIT Skyblazers and ACT Cyberknights.

VAAA Basketball: Semifinals Date Moved Anew

The date of the semifinals of the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association basketball competitions have been moved again owing to Southwestern University's departure to China as part of their prize for winning the 62nd National Students basketball Championships. There is also a large possibility that the new schedule, April 25-27, will be moved again since the UV Green Lancers are also slated to participate in a Manila tournament spanning April 21-27.

CCAA Associate Membership Status in BAP-SBP Raises Eyebrows

Right after the BAP-SBP released an initial list of active and associate members, I got an email from Cebu basketball scribe Rico Navarro if I had any idea about the Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association(CCAA) which was granted an associate membership status. After digging my notes, I came across a Manuel Oyson article that mentioned CCAA as the predecessor of the now defunct Cebu Amateur Athletic Association, in turn the predecessor of the present CeSAFI. Navarro also confirmed this through coaches Boy Cabahug and Danny Duran.

Cebu Could Be in STI's Plans

The Systems Technology Institute are currently busy building up a basketball program that is national in scope. Drawing strength from its school system that counts more than a hundred schools scattered nationwide, STI is building up its "national team" in their Makati campus, home of the STI Olympians.

Recently, the composition of the team includes 5 holdovers from their team that finished a decent fourth in the last Collegiate National Championships(formerly Collegiate Champions League), 5 players from Cagayan de Oro and one from UCAA champions STI Pampanga.

Upon our exchanges, program director Mhel Garrido also revealed that there might be plans to put up a team in Cebu, taking advantage of the fact that there is a very high level of competition in Cebu collegiate basketball and the possibility that there are still a lot of untapped talent in the Cebu countryside.

CeSAFI Active Member Status Confirmed by BAP-SBP; 4 Others Granted Associate Membership

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated(CeSAFI), Cebu's premier collegiate basketball organizer, is one of 15 organizations whose active member status have been confirmed by the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas in its board meeting April 4. Four other Cebu-based organizations were also given the associate membership status pending submission of additional documents. These includes the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association, Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association, Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association and the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation. CeSAFI, being an active member gets to vote in the coming national elections of the BAP-SBP.

CeSAFI Active Member Status Confirmed by BAP-SBP; 4 Others Granted Associate Membership

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated(CeSAFI), Cebu's premier collegiate basketball organizer, is one of 15 organizations whose active member status have been confirmed by the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas in its board meeting April 4. Four other Cebu-based organizations were also given the associate membership status pending submission of additional documents. These includes the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association, Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association, Cebu Collegiate Association and the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation. CeSAFI, being an active member gets to vote in the coming national elections of the BAP-SBP.

VAAA Schedule Likely to be Postponed Again

The semifinals schedule of the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association may again be postponed due to conflicts with schedules involving participating teams' schedules. Initially schedule on the last week of March, the schedule was moved to April 18-20 owing largely to the chief organizer's absence. Southwestern University, one of four teams seeing action in the semifinals however is scheduled to leave for China on April 17 and won't be back until after April 19. The University of the Visayas will also not be available between April 21-27 as they are scheduled to participate in an ABS-CBN organized national tournament.

VAAA Resumes April 18

After a long wait, the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association will finally return with slambang semifinal action at the Cebu Coliseum on April 18, 2008. The remaining elimination games, which were all non-bearing, have been cancelled after the VAAA schedule had to give way to numerous pocket tournaments such as the La Fortuna Cup, the 62nd National Students Basketball Championships, the PRISAA regional and national events, and the Southwestern University Cobras' trip to China.

The semifinal match-ups pit University of San Carlos Warriors against archrivals University of the Visayas Green Lancers in what promises to be another game that could go to an exciting down-the-wire finish. The other semifinal pairing will see the vastly improved Southwestern University Cobras against the trigger happy Asian College of Technology Cyberknights.

Cebu Collegiate Teams Ranked

The playing field in Cebu collegiate basketball has somehow leveled off. The University of the Visayas Green Lancers are no longer as dominant as they were a few years back. Teams like the University of San Carlos Warriors, University of San Jose-Recoletos and the Southwestern University Cobras have improved drastically. Following is my ranking and notes of Cebu school basketball programs:

1. University of the Visayas Green Lancers
Although, they are no longer as dominant as they were a few years back, the UV Green Lancers have remained the barometer for Cebu collegiate basketball programs. They have an established recruitment and training program that starts as early as the grade school years of prospective athletes. Their coaching however needs a development program. Realizing the weakness in their guard position, UV is rumored to activate guards Phil Mercader, Harold Cincoflores, and Harold Kenn Villanil

2. University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars
Along with the USC Warriors, the Jaguars are probably the best-coached school team in Cebu. USJ-R is known to be a very mature team and, aside from its coaching, draws strength from superb guard play, relentless trapping defense, impeccable outside shooting and capitalizing on fastbreak opportunities. They play as a team and their bench is capable of delivering when their starters are having a bad night. Should Luther Luke Justiniani(6'2", guard/forward) return, he should make the Jaguars more deadly and will be an able replacement for Bobby Hatague who has used up his eligibility.

3. University of San Carlos Warriors
While USC has a rich basketball tradition that counts big names like Ramon Fernandez, Julian Macoy and Lauro Mumar, the Warriors were doormats for quite a while. The Warriors program was revitalized after the abolition of a long-standing policy that dictated only alumni can coach the team. The entry of coaches Jay Ramirez and Mike Reyes, both of whom are not graduates of USC, did a lot of good for the USC basketball program. USC is now a contender that cannot be taken lightly. It also got a boost from the alumni aid in recruitment, mostly referring Fil-foreign prospects. Much of USC's campaign will hinge on the games of Fil-Aussie Emel Rowe(6'4", forward), Guam-based Fil-ams JP Cruz(5'9", guard) and Alfred Vitug(5'11", guard), and the San Juan Brothers(6'4" forward Nico and 6'2" forward AJ). They hope to fill in the void left by the graduated Niño Ramirez(6'0", guard) as well as the disqualified Ryan Carlo Padayao(6'3", forward) and Jam Ferraren(5'8", small forward) who had academic issues to contend with.

4. Southwestern University Cobras
The Southwestern University Cobras are deep in talent and morale. SWU provides well for its athletes. The Cobras are at least two-deep in each position except maybe the power forward spot for the coming CeSAFI season as they will be losing Richard Gianchand(6'2", power forward), who have used up his eligibility , and Mars Canonigo(6'2", power forward), who apparently had stopped attending team practices and classes. Melvin Divinagracia(6'4", center/forward) needs to mature and Rene Pacquiao(6'5", center) needs to step up.

5. Asian College of Technology Cyberknights
What the Asian College of Technology lack in height, they compensate with superb coaching, relentless denial defense, and a run-and-gun offense. They are also deadly on backdoor plays off baseline inbounds.

6. University of Cebu Webmasters
The University of Cebu Webmasters counts on Cebu's best center at the moment in Junmar Fajardo. Fajardo, however, needs help as he can't do it all by himself. Allain Abellanosa has used up his eligibility and so did Jonathan Canceran and Jared Kane Abatayo, so guys like Kevin Juliane and Sting Espinoza needs to step up. They are also rumored to sign at least 3 big men from Mindanao as the team badly needs size.

7. Don Bosco Technological College Greywolves
Don Bosco is like a sleeping giant, a team that needs some tweaking to be truly competitive in the Cebu collegiate basketball scene. They have a good center in Ricmar Perturbos, a wily point guard in Celso Colegado, and another steady point guard in Rodolfo Enterina III. The Greywolves also counts on deadly shooters. What they probably need are some size down low and some slashers. They have proven that they can keep up with many of the other teams. An endgame collapse however, is a common shortcoming that they need to address.

8. Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats
From once a contender, CIT has not had much success lately. While their guard rotation is fine, their frontcourt positions need better talent. At the moment, Only Ryan Montealto is showing some promise at the frontcourt while Sherwin Resilla, Sherwin Abobo, and Karen Rick Dela Cerna are having a decent showing at the backcourt.

9. Salazar College of Sciences and Institute of Technology Skyblazers
Salazar Institute of Technology is better known for producing stars Junthy Valenzuela and Jimwell Torion. Recently, however, they are a struggling team that needs a size upgrade. There starting center is a mere 6'2" tall while only 2 others are at least as tall as him.

10. University of Southern Philippines Panthers
The USP Panthers were once perennial semifinalists in the CeSAFI in the heydays of Jet Latonio and Aries Gloria. Now, they are struggling with recruitment and retaining talent. They lost big men Cleford Maguate(6'4", center/forward), Alfred Belande(6'2", forward) and Gilbert Gallarde(6'4", center) to SWU. Both Gallarde and Maguate are putting up big numbers for SWU lately.

11. Cebu Doctors' University Stallions
The CDU Stallions are rumored to make a comeback in the CeSAFI in 2008. While a new team, I won't be surprised if they place higher than USP, CIT and DBTC. Their Fil-foreign main man Martin Groogard is showing some promise so far in recreational leagues.

Fil-foreigners Showing Interest in Cebu

Don't look now but many Filipino-foreign prospects in basketball are taking a second look at Cebu schools and the local collegiate league, Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated(CeSAFI). The less stringent requirements for Fil-foreigners in the Cebu league is probably a good reason why many Fil-foreign prospects are excited about their chances of playing in Cebu. The larger Manila-based school leagues require from 1 to 2 years residency before a Fil-foreign cager is considered eligible to play in either the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines(UAAP) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA). That is why the University of San Carlos has gotten many prospective Filipino-foreigners lately capitalizing on this Cebuano advantage.

Cebu Teams Dominate 62nd NSBC

From the start, critics were saying that the 62nd National Students Basketball Championships organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines did not draw quality teams aside from the Cebu-based schools who defied strong warnings from the BAP-SBP. Southwestern University Cobras struggled in some of their early assignments drawing wins from great endgame heroics of its wards to finally beat UV and win its first title since its comeback into the mainstream basketball scene in Cebu. The University of the Visayas Green Lancers failed anew to win a national title within less than a one-year span. They breezed through the early part of the competitions and was challenged by gritty archrivals University of San Carlos in the semifinals managing to survive USC and escape with a 2-point double overtime victory. USC once again lost to UV in a hard-fought contest and also had its scares in the quarterfinals against Angeles Foundation University and during the battle for third place against University of Luzon-Dagupan, finishing a respectable 3rd place when the smoke cleared. Only one Cebu team was not in the top four, Asian College of Technology bowing to University of Luzon-Dagupan Golden Tigers in the quarterfinals.

Cebu To Host Asian Universities Basketball Championships

After a successful staging of the 62nd National Students Basketball Championships organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines, Cebu is again set to host a big basketball event. Come July 5-12, Cebu City will play host to collegiate teams from South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, China and the Philippines for the 6th edition of the Asian Universities Basketball Championships. 3 Cebu teams who topped the 62nd NSBC will represent the Philippines while NSBC semifinalist University of Luzon-Dagupan Golden Tigers were also invited to participate. Other participating countries are sending 1 team each. SWU, UV and USC are invited to join the AUBC.