Thursday, July 19, 2007 Cesafi overturns disqualification on USPF
THE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) retracted its initial decision to disqualify one of the basketball players of University of Southern Philippines Foundation after it found out that it had mistakenly counted his number of units.
“We overturned our decision based on the rule that each student must pass 60 percent of his subjects. Orleo Rizane was able to comply,” said Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.
Rizane was saved after Cesafi found out that in last Tuesday’s screening, one subject was counted as three units. Tiukinhoy said that in the curriculum, the subject is only counted as two units.
Cesafi warned earlier on that once a player is found to have discrepancies in his records, he will not be allowed to play. Tiukinhoy said this was a different case since it was the screening committee that made the error.
Boost
The decision will be a boost to USPF team of coach Raul Latonio, whose other player Keshler Singson was disqualified for registering late.
Meanwhile, games for three Saturdays will be played at the Danao City Sports Center because the Cebu Coliseum will not be available.
Cesafi will have the same format as last year. After the round robin elimination round, all teams will still play in the quarterfinal round. The top team will take on the eighth placer; the No. 2 will play No. 7; the No. 3 will play No. 6 and No. 4 will play the No. 5.
All the top four teams will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage.
In the college division, if the top team will have a spotless record, it will automatically earn a slot to the semifinal.
In the high school division, the number one team, regardless of its record, will directly move to the semis.
More games
The crossover semifinal will be a best of three series and the championship series will be a best of five affair “We want to have as much games as possible. If we do a best of five, there is a chance a losing team can strike back, to give more excitement to the games,” said Tiukinhoy.
Meanwhile, all coaches of the Cesafi member schools will attend a coaches seminar this weekend at the Cebu Coliseum and USPF gym on Sunday.
Chito Narvasa, the commissioner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and president of the Philippine Basketball Coaches Association will be conducting the seminar with his vice president Tanny Gonzales, who is also a consultant of the Philippine Sports Commission. (MCB)
