Reigning men’s basketball champion University of the Visayas-Mandaue campus is ready to defend its title while defending men’s volleyball champion Cabancalan National High School is not.
These were the contrasting views expressed by the teams’ coaches during the opening ceremony of the Mandaue City Amateur Basketball Association (MACABA) Invitational Cup and the Mandaue City Amateur Volleyball Association (MACAVA) that opened recently at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
“We had prepared for the MACABA. We had a lot of practices and I hope we will retain our title. I am confident that my players are now ready for the battle,” said UV coach, Luisito Auman, who was a former UV MACABA player.
UV has only been defeated once in MACABA tournament, back in 2005 at the hands of St. Louis School of Mandaue.
While UV-Mandaue is poised to grab another title, the same can’t be said about CNHS.
“Our players are not yet ready for the fight because we only have three players left from the pioneering team and the rest are new,” said new coach Angelito G. Sadili.
CNHS has dominated men’s volleyball competition for some years with players like Melson Basubas, Roderick Arenasa (USC’s team captain) and his teammate Edward Carlo Tecson.
Later, Arenasa coached CNHS to several titles in MACAVA. Interestingly, while he was piloting CNHS, he also coached USC to the CESAFI men’s volleyball championship.
Time, however, has changed.
CNHS is not that dominating anymore bowing to Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (MCCNHS) in the recent ML Kuwarta Padala volleyball tournament. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil, Correspondent