Saturday, August 04, 2007 Cesafi 7th season opens today in Cebu Coliseum
EXPECT fireworks in today’s opening of the seventh season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) at the Cebu Coliseum.
“We expect an explosive opening in a jam packed coliseum,” said Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.
A major contribution the excitement will be Filipino-American Gregory Slaughter of University of the Visayas, who had caused a stir in an otherwise humdrum basketball scene in Cebu.
Because of him, rivalry broke out between two schools, UV and University of Cebu. The two teams figured in a tug of war in attempt to tap the Slaughter for their teams.
Worth the fight?
And people will be coming to see if he is worth the fight. “People will be coming in droves to see him play,” Tiukinhoy added.
The rivalry will be settled on the basketball court as UC and UV play in the main game today slated at 3:30 p.m. after the 1:00 p.m. opening ceremony. Slaughter will sweeten things up as he plays his debut game under the mentorship of UV’s Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.
Lavish opening
The opening, according to Tiukinhoy, is another thing to look forward to.
“We will have the usual lavish opening highlighted by the Palabas of different schools, who have prepared for this,” Tiukinhoy added.
UC, UV, Cebu Doctor’s University, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Institute of technology, Don Bosco College, Southwestern University, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Velez College will have their own dance presentations. They are scheduled to perform the dances of countries assigned to them.
Kenneth Kernn Sesante, former captain of the UC basketball team, will be awarded a citation for setting an example that athletes don’t necessarily have to do badly in academics. Sesante is seen as proof that good athletes can be good students.
Sesante placed second in the Customs licensure exams last year.
Philippine Sports Commission chairperson William Ramirez, who has been a familiar fixture in Cesafi openings, will again be the guest of honor in the opening today. (MCB)
