Yayoy: Tiukinhoy has no heart for sports

CEBU - “A self-centered individual who has no heart for sports.”

In a hardline rhetoric, this is how legendary basketball coach and league organizer Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba described Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr., whom he accused as the mastermind of the CESAFI Board’s decision prohibiting its member teams from taking part in the third season of the Visayas Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA).

“If he (Tiukinhoy) is a true-blue sportsman, he should support this kind of endeavor. He creates divisiveness. Instead of promoting unity (in Cebu basketball), he tried to divide us. He should not be in sports, he should be in politics,” said Alcoseba in a press conference at his City Hall office.

As league commissioner, Alcoseba said Tiukinhoy should not dictate what the Board will do or initiate what he is going to do.

“He is the one who is initiating all of these. He pressured the Board to make the decision. Who called a meeting? Who made a resolution? It could not have been done if it was not for him. He has no authority to do such because he is just a commissioner,” said Alcoseba.

Alcoseba said he couldn’t comprehend the logic nor fathom the rationale behind CESAFI’s decision considering that VAAA rolls out a lot of opportunities for aspiring collegiate players in the region being a developmental league.

“I want to make it clear that VAAA is here not to compete with CESAFI. We are even helping CESAFI in terms of exposure of its players as well as in its sports program,” said Alcoseba.

Tiukinhoy cited the conflict in scheduling as the main reason of CESAFI’s latest order. He said some of their member schools are gearing up for the qualifying round of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League next month. They are also in the process of forming a CESAFI selection for a tournament in Hong Kong this December and then prepare for the Partners Cup in February next year.

But Alcoseba countered the VAAA schedule has always been flexible.

“The Champions League only takes how many games? It will not disrupt the schedule of VAAA or the CESAFI. Besides, we are willing to adjust to the schedule of CESAFI just like what we did in the past two stagings of VAAA,” said Alcoseba.

Alcoseba said he just pity the players who kept on practicing with no tournament to showcase their wares.

“These players are enjoying a year-long athletic scholarship with their respective schools and the CESAFI is only for the first semester. I pity these players because they kept on practicing without having a tournament to join in,” said Alcoseba.

“Tiukinhoy has never been an athlete so he doesn’t feel what the athletes feel. He is a selfish, self-centered individual. He doesn’t think about sports. He thinks only of himself,” blurted out Cebu’s winningest coach. “He doesn’t have love for sport. What’s wrong with the league (VAAA) that they prevented their member teams from participating?”

Alcoseba said with or without the support of the CESAFI, the VAAA will push through as scheduled on November 8. He hopes though that the team owners will reconsider their decision.

“I must admit that without the CESAFI teams, the level of competition in VAAA would become lower,” said Alcoseba.

“I just hope the respective school heads will look at the bigger picture. Joining the VAAA is of their advantage because they will be spared from financial burden, their players are all insured and will have a chance to travel to other places. More importantly, their teams will be given the needed exposure preparatory for the next CESAFI season. These are on top of the P100,000 worth of sports equipment we are offering to the top performing school,” he added.

So far, only one CESAFI member school - the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers - has signified its intent to see action in the VAAA cage wars. The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras have also expressed their willingness to join, but they have yet to ask the blessings of their school heads. (THE FREEMAN)