Monday, March 03, 2008 We don't 'control' teams: Cesafi to Gullas
THEY are barking at the wrong tree.
THE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) commissioner “reacted respectfully” back at University of the Visayas after UV president Eddie Gullas mentioned Cesafi in the fracas with BAP-SBP regarding UV’s participation at the National Schools Basketball Championship (NSBC).
“With all due respect, I think Mr. Gullas is barking at the wrong tree. The Cesafi never made a single remark about their participation in the NSBC. How did we suddenly come into picture?” said Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.
Tiukinhoy wants to put the records, straight and will answer Gullas point per point.
Gullas said in his press conference the other day that he is disappointed with some Cesafi officials because they are very constricting and dictate on the members when they can compete.
Tiukinhoy said that as far as he knows, it was the BAP-SBP, the national governing body for basketball, who prohibited them from joining, NSBC, not Cesafi.
NSBC is organized by BAP, the defunct sports association for basketball.
“BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio was the one who warned them about their participation, not Cesafi. Cesafi never told them not to join,” Tiukinhoy said.
Before the NSBC started, Gregorio had warned UV and other member-schools that if they force their participation, there might be sanctions. One of this, according to Gregorio, is the possibility that they will no longer be invited to BAP-SBP-sanctioned events.
After Gregorio passed the memorandum to regional head Raul Yayoy Alcoseba, the latter, who is also the head of VAAA also told the members not to join. Cesafi, however, remained mum.
Tiukinhoy also clarified that it is never a rule in the Cesafi to prohibit the schools from joining other competitions. “It just states that we are requiring them to inform us to know whether there will be conflicts with Cesafi-sponsored events. Informing the board is not synonymous to prohibition,” Tiukinhoy said.
“Just like what happened with VAAA. USC, SWU and UV officials had duly informed the Cesafi board about their participation and so there were no problems,” Tiukinhoy added. (MCB)
