Tuesday, October 09, 2007 Cesafi battle spreads to the bleachers By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
APART from the courtside battle happening in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc., another battle is brewing in the stands—fans vs. fans, a proof of the growing following of Cebu’s premier collegiate league.
During the semifinals, the heated rivalry between University of the Visayas and University of San Jose-Recoletos claimed its first casualty as a man had to be dragged out of the stands as he was beaten by fans after he heckled a section full of supporters of the opposing team.
In a game that lasts for almost two hours and in a closed and secured area like the coliseum—with a mob hundreds of angry fans involved—a lot of things could happen.
Because of this, Cesafi tightened securities and requested additional police to be at the venue during games and incidents of coins and bottled water thrown containers were reduced.
But these avid followers never run out of tricks just so they could sling mud on their opposing team, or opposing school. To avoid injuries, they resort to the traditional placards with often snide remarks, or a fully choreographed, topless band.
In the championship series of the Cesafi, fans of the University of San Carlos strike the UV team the age of the UV players.
They sometimes carry placards accusing UV players of not attending classes.
Upperhand
UV defends itself in huge white banners which say “Age does not matter.” Having the upper hand and being the champions for the last six years, they also proclaim, “UV dynasty will never end.”
Last Sunday, a UV fan came towards the area of the USC supporters and went dancing with banners waving. This prompted a security guard to escort the fellow out of the coliseum.
He was later back on the stands, this time with his fellow UV supporters. The heckling did not stop. UV’s drum and bugle, which had situated itself at the very top of the almost deserted bleachers, went towards the USC side of the coliseum and started playing and dancing to different tunes and in funny moves.
Making the other side mad seemed to be the motif of every game. Last Sunday, however, the heckling and the jeering stretched not just after the game but on the streets as fans shouted insults to each other.
Year by year, the Cesafi support base is increasing, proving that Cesafi is growing more and more each year.
The growth is also helped that now the Cesafi has ceased to be predictable with UV shredding its cloak of invincibility and a new team could take over the throne, which UV has stayed on for six years.
And as today’s Game 3 opens shop at the Cebu Coliseum, the action won’t be limited to the court and the participants won’t be just the 12-man on the team.
