CESAFI to sponsor seminar for coaches and referees

In order to be refreshed with the existing amateur basketball rules and boost their officiating capabilities, Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. yesterday announced he is inviting three resource speakers from Manila for a two-day coaches and referees seminar this weekend.

The coaches seminar will be conducted by Chito Narvasa, former coach of Shell Turbo Chargers in the PBA who is now the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) president and NCAA commissioner.

Narvasa will be backed up by Tanny Gonzales, a basketball organizer who is the vice president of BCAP.

On Sunday, the seminar will shift to the University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Gym.

The resource speaker for the referees seminar is Bryan Tabañag, one of the best amateur referees in the country. Tabañag’s traces his roots from Cebu and he is a nephew of the late international referee Peary Tabañag.

Tiukinhoy deemed it necessary for the CESAFI coaches to be briefed on the new rules, if there are any, because he believes Cebu is always left behind when it comes to officiating.

“Pirme man gyud tang biya dire sa Cebu ba. Ang ato ra man mga coaches ang dili mo-angkon nga dili maka-mao, pirme man silang sikat,” Tiukinhoy said in jest.

Tiukinhoy said the local coaches and referees have nothing to lose but everything to gain because the trip of the three Manila visitors are shouldered by the CESAFI.

Tiukinhoy made it clear through that only the members of the CESAFI training pool are allowed to participate in the seminar.

Meanwhile, Tiukinhoy said he will release at the soonest as possible the official list of CESAFI players who are qualified to play for the 2007 season that will start on August 4 at the Cebu Coliseum pitting the talents of powerhouse University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers led by 6-foot-11 Fil-Am Gregory Slaughter against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters. (GGM)