Over son’s disqualification, couple files suit vs CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines - The parents of a 15-year-old basketball player filed a case against the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) for disallowing their child from playing in this year’s Junior Basketball League for reason of residency.

The couple alleged that CESAFI officials erred in disqualifying their son, saying that the two-year residency rule applies only to college students.

The boy is among the 15 players of the University of San Carlos (USC).

The couple said their son was enrolled at the Don Bosco Technology Center, a member of CESAFI, two years ago in 2011. Seeing bigger opportunities, the boy left the school the following year, 2012, and joined his coach, Carlito Britt Reroma, in San Beda College in Manila.

However, because Reroma had to return to Cebu to take care of his ailing father, he eventually left San Beda College and later got an offer from USC. The couple said Reroma had contacted their son and offered him a spot in the USC Basic Education Department basketball team.

However, before the games opened on August 3, 2013, Reroma received a letter from the CESAFI screening committee that the boy was disqualified from playing.

“Any high school athlete of a CESAFI- member school who transfer to another member school shall be required a minimum of two-year residence to qualify to play,” the letter reads.

Despite the letter, the boy still joined his team during the opening ceremony, but when Reroma called him to play in the second quarter, a CESAFI commissioner allegedly stood, approached the USC team, and manifested his opposition to the boy’s participation.

The commissioner allegedly told Reroma that if USC would insist to let the boy play, the game would be forfeited against the school. Hearing this, the boy reportedly “returned to his seat and cried.”

Such act, the couple said, constitutes “child abuse through unfair conduct.”

The couple asked the court to issue a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the decision of CESAFI, void their son’s disqualification, and to let him play in the scheduled games. They also asked the court to order CESAFI and its officers to pay P50,000 as moral damages.

Named defendants in the civil case are CESAFI President Fr. Manny Uy, Commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. and screening committee members Jess Himotas and Danny Duran. –/JMO (FREEMAN)