Friday, September 29, 2006 Overcome fear, ‘see a shrink’
WILL sports psychologists help boost Cebu collegiate basketball teams’ morale in competing against tougher teams in Manila?
Former Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) commissioner Baldomero Estenzo said it would. But head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug of the University of Visayas (UV) Green Lancers said they don’t need “shrinks.”
Factors
Estenzo cited that fear of facing Manila teams, composed of champions from the UAAP and NCAA, is one of the factors why Cebu teams falter in national meet.
“Para pa-isog sa ila (To boost their morale),” Estenzo said during the weekly Scoop forum at the Baseline Restaurant.
Cabahug dismissed Estenzo’s suggestion.
He said UV had been joining the Collegiate Champion’s League (CCL) for six straight years and fear is not one of their weaknesses.
“ I don’t think so, UV has always been a fighter,” Cabahug told Sun.Star Cebu.
Locals
In the nationals, he said some teams in Manila field Fil-Ams in their line-up, while UV or Cebu teams have always fielded their homegrown and local talents.
This year, UV, the six-time Cesafi champion, is eyeing another campaign in the Champions League in Manila should it qualify again in the elimination phase, which is slated on Oct. 1 and 2 at the Cebu Coliseum.
UV and the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors are seeded in the final round.
UV will play the winner between University of San Jose-Recoletos and Davao City’s University of Mindanao (UM), while USC faces the winner between University of Cebu and West Negros College (WNC).
Estenzo also warned the Cebu teams not to belittle WNC and UM.
Though UM lost 6-foot-9 behemoth center Sanmigue Iman, Estenzo said that former national coach Joe Lipa observed that UM is a tough nut to crack this year.
WNC, on the other hand, has gained a lot of exposure in a tough commercial league in the Visayas and Mindanao. WNC represents Negros in the Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association.
The top two teams will enjoy free transportation and accommodation in the final round in Manila. (JAF)
