Friday, July 27, 2007 Don’t settle for second By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE University of the Visayas, which has been hogging the championship crown of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc (Cesafi) for the past six seasons, does not want other teams to think that the it is inevitable that UV will be the champion and the other teams will just be fighting for scraps.
“While we do try hard all the time, it is still anybody’s ballgame. We lost before. It could happen again,” said UV head coach Elmer Cabahug.
Every year, it has been the mission of the other schools to defeat the seemingly undefeatable Green Lancers. It was only University of Cebu that came close to snatching the crown. But that wasn’t even near target as UC only managed to defeat UV in the elimination round of the 2005 season.
In yesterday’s Scoop Forum, the other coaches tried to set a “more realistic goal” and said they were either just fighting for third place, or fighting not to be at the bottom.
Not unbeatable
“The other teams should not put it in their heads that we can never be beaten,” Cabahug said.
Cabahug also said that no matter how sturdy people think his team is, there will always be weak points within them.
“We have our weaknesses too. It is up to the other teams to find that out and use it to their advantage,” said Cabahug.
Cabahug also said that has been proven when they lost to UC in 2005. Also, during the off season competition—the Partners’ Cup—UV lost twice against UC and University of San Jose Recoletos.
Weaknesses
“The thing with us is that we always prepare and I always tell my team not to be complacent,” Cabahug said.
Knowing the team’s weaknesses is one thing for the most-awarded coach, but he also acknowledges what his team is capable of.
“My lineup this year is my best yet,” said Cabahug, who added that it is even better than his erstwhile best lineup in 2001, during the time of Neil Rañeses and Ronald Quiñahan.
Apart from the much-hyped Filipino-American Gregory Slaughter, Cabahug is also proud of his new recruit Sylvester Tancongco.
“He is 6-foot-3, and he is a combination of Jayford (Rodriguez, former UV Lancer) and Peter Naron (former PBA, MBA player),” Cabahug said.
Tancongco has been highly recommended by his former colleagues.
“With him and Edrian Lao, Harlow Villanil and Michael Luga, we are good to go,” Cabahug said.
Slaughter and Rino Berami will be guarding the post, while Ariel Mepaña and Luga will be this year’s wingmen.
