7th CESAFI All-Star Games today

The cream of the crop in both high school and college divisions of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. will convene today to show off their wares including their shooting prowess and leaping ability as the CESAFI holds the seventh edition of its annual All-Star Games starting at 1 pm at the Cebu Coliseum.

Aside from the swashbuckling double-header, a 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest among the finest stars of CESAFI will also be witnessed by the Cebuano hoop buffs.

To add glamour to the keenly-awaited show, there will be a 3-Point Shootout Challenge of former CESAFI players/alumni featuring the legendary triggerman Felix Duhig and Chester Cokaliong, a famed streak-shooter who already collared 15 3-point king crowns in his career that started when he formed the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) in 1999.

Last year, the East swept the West All-Stars via a 96-89 decision in the seniors category and by an 85-61 verdict in the high school level.

With UV’s coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug back as East All-Stars mentor, they are poised to retain the crown they won against the West of coach Dodie Miego. Likewise, the East of coach Roland Remedio will try to keep the juniors crown against the chargers of Reggie Licanda for the West side.

The East roster in college division are Chris Victor Diputado, Von Harry Lanete, Ricthum Dennison, Michael Luga, Ariel Mepaña, Rino Berame, Harlow Chad Villanil, and Gregory Slaughter of UV, Glenn Ford Bugtai and Ricmar Perturbos of Don Bosco Technology Center, Dennis Tabada and Moncrief Rogado of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, and  Ryan Carlo Padayao, Niño Ramirez, and Enrico Llanto of the University of San Carlos.

Their juniors counterparts are Niño Jed Tiu, Francis Dave Omolon, Nilton John Otida, John Phillip de los Santos, Ian Adlawan and Cark Ruko Santos of USC, UR de la Cruz, Ephraim Elorde, Norman Bordalba, Jaime Henri Babiera and Rey Michael Cabatingan of USPF and John Michael Abad, Junard Premacio, Eugene Erick Viagedor and Jade Cañedo of UV.

The West seniors squad is composed of Eric Zanoria, Chris Litorja, Richard Gianchand, Ritchie Jalandoni  and Mariano Canonigo of SWU, Armand Ponce, Jessmar Villahermosa, Lyndon Gudez, Manny Gabas, and Ranulfo Malinao of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Sherwin Abobo and Sherwin Resilla of Cebu Institute of Technology  and Allain Abellanosa and Janssen Abella of the University of Cebu.

Playing for the West juniors are Clint Muñez, Joshua Heredia, Xyl Jy Ponsica, Miko Marquez, Mark Stephen Trillo and James Regalado of USJ-R, Ken Borinaga, Jeffrey Taghoy, Seldon Clint Gerali, Ralph Erwin Espinosa and John Leroy Santos of CIT, Rodrienne Balbuena and Danilo Belongel of DBTC, and Leymund Babad and Pelayo Cabañero III of UC.

Vying for the 3-point title are defending champion Lanete, Dennison, Abella, Abellanosa, Ramirez, Padayao, Gudez, Ponce, Litorja, Zanoria, Rogado, Abobo and Marjun Apura, while the entries in the slam dunk contest are defending champion Eulogio Lasala, Jr., and rookie Sylvester Tancongco of UV, Jonathan Canceran of UC, Manny Gabas of USJ-R, Ritchie Jalandoni and Richard Gianchand of SWU and Ricmar Perturbos of Don Bosco.