UC to defend homecourt vs. CIT in CESAFI opener

The University of Cebu plays host to the Cebu Institute of Technology in the season opening double-header of the 2005 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament tomorrow at the Cebu Coliseum.

The UC Junior Webmasters take on the CIT Wildkittens in the first game at 3:30 pm, while their collegiate counterparts square off against each other in the main attraction at 5:30 pm.

The UC Webmasters finished fourth last season behind the undefeated four-time champion University of the Visayas Green Lancers, University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars and the University of Southern Philippines Panthers.

The UV Lancers will plunge into action on August 14 yet against the University of San Carlos Warriors at the USC gym, while competition in the women's division will take off on August 11, with USJ-R taking on CIT at the Cebu Coliseum.

Before the hardcourt hostilities, a grandiose kick off bash will take place starting at 1 pm to be highlighted by the colorful and electrifying "Dance Palabas."

UV athletics director Cris Mejarito said the traditional Dance Palabas, which is getting better and livelier every year, will be a retrospect, a showcase of the evolution of dance from the 30s to the modern era.

Among the luminaries expected to grace the opening salvo of the region's premiere amateur cage league are the members of the CESAFI Board headed by their president Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas, UV's executive vice president and VP for finance.

To rekindle the interest of cage fans to the league, Gullas is implementing once again the home-and-away format, which proved to be highly successful when he was at the helm of the CESAFI leadership three years ago.

In another unprecedented move in CESAFI history, Gullas said they will hold out-of-town games this season in Talisay City, Mandaue City and Minglanilla.

"We are doing this so that basketball fans outside Cebu City will have the chance to see the talents of our CESAFI players," said Gullas.

Gullas thanked Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and the city's sports and development commission chairperson Cheryl Ouano, Minglanilla Mayor Eddie Selma and Talisay City Mayor Soc Fernandez and Engr. Jun Rabaya for their all-out support to CESAFI's objectives.

The officiating aspect of 2005 CESAFI cage wars will be under the supervision of commissioners Danny Duran, Bob Callelero and Lito Singson in coordination with Atty. Joseph "Dodong" Baduel, who will enact on technical matters such as protests.

Also helping Gullas in running the CESAFI affairs are his son Joselito "Jiji" Gullas and nephew Gerald Anthony "Didi" Gullas, UV's assistant vice president for finance and vice president for administration, respectively.

The tournament follows a double round robin format in the elimination round, with the top four teams in each division advancing to the semifinals. The No.1 and No.2 seeds in each division will enjoy twice-to-beat incentives over the No.3 and No.4 teams.

The winners will then figure in a best-of-three finals series, while the losers will play a knockout game for third place.

In the women's side, the top two teams will dispute the championship in a winner-take-all match.