Thursday, November 08, 2007 Controversy brews in VAAA, Cesafi
EVEN before the first whistle is blown, the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA) promises to be a controversial affair.
This after the University of the Visayas joined the competition despite getting barred by the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) from doing so.
Three other schools, the University of San Carlos, Southwestern University and University of San Jose-Recoletos are waiting for the final word from their school heads before they could join the event.
The basketball season of the Cesafi has already ended but its other events will have its opening on Nov. 18 at the Cebu Coliseum, while the Partners Cup, another Cesafi event which UV is not a part of, will start next month.
Also on Nov. 18, the VAAA, which is only a basketball contest, will open also at the Cebu Coliseum.
Meanwhile, UV head coach hit the Cesafi for barring teams from joining the VAAA.
“This (barring teams) is an undemocratic act. (Felix) Tiukinhoy (Cesafi commissioner) has no right to deprive any of the Cesafi teams from participating in any tournament because we have the freedom to choose. Once, we were divided but now that we are united they want to divide (Cebu basketball) again,” Cabahug said during VAAA’s press conference yesterday.
Cabahug said since he is a part of the BAP-SBP he has to support any project of the organization and VAAA one of them.
“This VAAA is not a competing organization but this will help develop talents. Before, I was against VAAA because there were some issues that were unresolved but now that all the issues are corrected, I personally want to join and I got the approval of the Gullases. UV is very supportive of the BAP-SBP that is why we joined this tournament,” said Cabahug.
On the other hand, Tiukinhoy said the decision to bar Cesafi schools came from the board, not from him and the decision of the seven-time to join the competition is now beyond him.
“It is already beyond my office. In fact, it is already beyond the coaches’ decision. This ruling (not to allow Cesafi schools to join VAAA), has been discussed and agreed during the board meeting, where representatives of these schools were present,” Tiukinhoy said.
Tiukinhoy said it was Eladio Dioko of UV and Ryan Aznar of SWU, who seconded the resolution.
“With that resolution, the board has clearly spoken. If they choose not to conform with it, that will be in their own judgment,” Tiukinhoy said.
Tiukinhoy also refused to say why Cesafi decided not to allow the teams to join the event.
“They already know the reasons because these have been discussed in the meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, VAAA founder Yayoy Alcoseba announced yesterday that the league will take care of its players in cases of injuries.
“The league will take care of everything. In cases of injury, we will give P30,000 assistance for major injuries, while for minor injuries VAAA will take care of everything. And since the teams will travel, we are also giving out accident insurance to all the accredited members of the team,” Alcoseba said.
Alcoseba also announced the VAAA is giving out a total of P200,000 worth of sports equipment to the top four teams.
The champion will receive P100,000 worth of equipment, the runnerup will get P50,000, third placer will receive P30,000 and the fourth place will get P20,000.(RCM with MCB)
