Thursday, November 01, 2007 Cabahug: I only want mistakes corrected
“WE should try to learn from the mistakes and correct them.”
This is what University of the Visayas head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug wants to happen for the next edition of the Partners Cup.
“After that first staging, we discovered some flaws and so we must do something to change that,” Cabahug said.
Cabahug is strongly fighting for the Partners Cup to give assurance that the players will be cared for in cases of serious injuries when they play in the league.
“Players will be injured. It happened the last time. Since we can’t prevent it, so why not do things that would ensure the players’ safety? We are only after the safety of our players,” Cabahug said. “We are willing to meet them halfway,” He added.
Cabahug’s concern came after he had to sacrifice one of his best players, Morsie Akad, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. season after Akad got injured in the Partners Cup.
UV spent a hefty amount for the player’s operation. “I was getting the pressure from the school owners because they were wondering why the sponsors were not helping to shoulder part of the expenses,” Cabahug said.
Uncertain
Because of this, it is now uncertain if UV, the defending champion, will join the second Partners Cup. Apart from UV, another school having second thoughts is the University of San Carlos, whose player, Ken Sharma, was downed with injuries while playing in the Partners Cup.
“If the administration will not allow us, we will just join in other tournaments,” said Cabahug.
“I feel the same way as Boy because we also lost the services of one player because of the Partners Cup. USC had to spend for it and so it will be up to the administration now if we join or not,” USC coach Jay Ramirez said.
Of the eight member-schools of the Cesafi, commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy said six are certain in their participation in the coming Partners Cup come Dec. 9.
“We are joining without any demands,” said Southwestern University (SWU) athletic director Ryan Aznar.
Apart from SWU, Tiukinhoy said those who have confirmed to join in the competition are University of Cebu, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Institute of Technology, Don Bosco College. (MCB)
