Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Sabal clarifies 'in-school sports issues'
A TOP Cosaa (Cagayan de Oro Sports Athletic Association) official recently guaranteed that the young league for student athletes would continue to be part of the Palaro meet's qualifying games.
And so, as being agreed last year, Xavier University sports director Gerardo "Boboy" Sabal claimed another "triangular meet" will transpire this year involving the qualified athletes of Prisaa, Cosaa and the public schools.
"Sama sa nahitabo niadtong miaging tuig, as is gihapon ang triangular meet og apil kita (Cosaa) niana," Sabal told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, virtually dismissing the rumors that circulated in the grapevines that the Prisaa (Private Schools Athletic Association) people headed by lawyer Adrian Barba (now a full-pledged city councilor) would reportedly dispute Cosaa's authority to have legal entry in the annual Palaro's final qualifying phase here popularly known then as City Dual Meet.
Among the controversies Xavier University's top sportsman are facing right now include the seemingly never-ending wrangling between Xavier University and Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School in secondary basketball rivalry.
In fact, the powerhouse Sacred Heart juniors were not able to see action in the ongoing Cosaa cagefest at XU gymnasium for a still unclear reason.
Some parents of the affected cagers earlier expressed apprehension the brewing conflict may create another discord leading to XU teams' possible exclusion in the keenly awaited Milo Best caging, which will open here in September.
"Kon magpadayon man gud ang politika sa sports ang mga bata ang labaw nga ma-apektohan," one parent said.
Sabal, however, insists Xavier University has an invitation to partake in the Milo Best eliminations here. He also clarified that all interested private schools in the city are welcome to participate in the prestigious Loyola Cup the Jesuit-run Xavier University is hosting every year. (LLS)
