CESAFI's brightest stars clash today: CECABA's Cokaliong faces another tough test against league's best in 3-point shootout

CEBU - The finest breed of collegiate and high school cagers in this year’s 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season will try to outwit each other in the spectacular Light vs. Dark All-Star Games today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The league’s annual spectacle starts off with a pompous opening number by the University of Cebu (UC) Dance Company at 1 pm.

The collegiate showdown marks the second meeting of two giants in the league, with 6-foot-11 Gregory Slaughter of the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, the starting center of Light Team, going up against the Dark powered by 6-foot-9 Jun Mar Fajardo of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters.         

Joining Slaughter as Light starters are his teammates Von Harry Lanete and Junjun Lasala, and Alfred Alfred Belande and Clifford Maguate of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras.

The first five crew of Dark, on the other hand, are Fajardo and Edward Pao of UC, and Armand Ponce, Luther Luke Justiniani and John Malinao of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

Pao though is a doubtful starter because he went to Bohol upon learning the death of his uncle.           The other stars to watch out for the Light squad are UV’s Harold Cincoflores, Chris Victor Diputado, Ritchum Dennison and Bonifer Sendrijasm USC’s Paul Joven, Sam Jordan Hermosa, Giovanni Padillo, Joven Cid Cortes, John Emel Rowe and Michael Cantonao. They will be coached by Elmer “Boy” Cabahug of UV.          

On the other hand, the rest of the Dark camp are Jabe Delfino, Lyndon Gudez, Mannie Gabas and Kurt Amores of USJ-R, Kevin Quilantang and Janssen Abella of UC, Rudolfo Enterina, Jr., Jun Colegado and Ricmar Perturbos of DBTC and Randy Avila of USPF. USJ-R’s Edito Salacut will call the shots for Dark.

The complete lineup for the high school Light squad are Alvie Cabañero, John Michael Auditor, Aldwin Felisario, Glennson Ybañez, Raffy Octobre and Llenes of UV, Danilo Belangel, Marion Joseph Bollozos and Lawrence Ruiz of DBTC, Peter Cañete and Ferraren of USPF, Clint Muñez del Rosario and del Socorro of USJ-R. The coach is Delfin “Jun” Pepito of UV.          

They will take on the the Dark force of Gerald Ampoon, Alfred Codilla, Zandro Palileo and John Marty Pearce, Pogoy and Taboada of UC, Mark Jayven Tallo, Jeffrey Taghoy, Getalla and Sanchez of CIT, Chino Uy, Kim Jordan Nuñeza, Kim Adrian Reyes and Sepe of USC, and Miranda-Sy of CEC.          

In between games, the spectators will be treated to some exciting sidelights through the slam dunk contest and the 3-point shootout wherein Cebu’s noted “Mr. 3 Points” Chester Cokaliong will test his marksmanship from beyond the arc against the CESAFI’s best 3-point snipers. The sports-minded shipping tycoon will be representing the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA).

“I think it’s already a big honor for me to be recognized and be invited (to join the 3-point shootout) by such a prestigious league as the CESAFI,” said Cokaliong, who boasts of a career 18 3-point king titles spiced up with one national championship he clinched during last year’s PAL Intersports. (THE FREEMAN)