The Ban

After the heavy flooding in many parts of Metro Cebu yesterday, I was so tempted to write about the need for Cebuanos to learn how to swim and to promote rowing as a sport here, but then there is another kind of row, which I would rather dedicate some paragraphs to.

This is row involving some sports officials about allowing the players of the school league to play in the commercial level.

I hope that before anybody gets angry at this piece, he or she reads it first until the end and not immediately tag me as biased because of all sorts of reasons.

Let us take a look back at history to put this effort of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) not to allow its players to join others tournaments.

In the past there was no restriction for varsity players to take part in other tournaments during the school year. I got very involved in the predecessor of the CESAFI, the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association from the mid-1990s to 2000 covering the basketball tournament for SkyCable TV.

I believe it was back in 1997 when one collegiate team swept its opponents during the early part of the CAAA basketball event, but suddenly failed to win any more games. It was found out that the team was allegedly playing five days a week in various tournaments.

By the time the team plays in the CAAA on Sundays, the players were too tired.

This started the move to disallow players of the school league to join other tournaments for the safety of the players and also to protect the investment of the schools. On an even more noble point, this was also to make sure that the players would also be going to school.

So, the policy on disallowing players to join other leagues during the CAAA season was implemented.

This policy was continued by the CESAFI and I believe it is a good policy as education should be a priority for the players along with their duties to the school team.

But then, the CESAFI season doesn’t run for the entire school year, can’t the players be allowed to play for commercial teams after the inter-school competition?

I believe that in Manila, the now dormant Philippine Basketball League used to schedule its tournaments after the UAAP and the NCAA seasons. This way, the players can give all out for their schools and after that they would also get a chance to hone their skills in another tournament.

Now, with a plan to revive the commercial basketball league in Cebu, I hope that the CESAFI and the league officials can come up with a compromise and not be calling each other names as this will not be good for Cebu sports.

It is not only the basketball players that are actually affected by the policy, also the players of volleyball and football. This should be a continuing discussion for the good of sports.

* * *

Those who would like to join the UP Cebu High School ’84 Golf Tournament tomorrow can still buy tickets for the event at the Mactan Island Golf Club.

The tickets are P2,000 each and you get a chance not only to play golf, but more importantly to help poor but deserving students get a college education.

* * *

MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to those who celebrated last Monday – Amor Parangan-Flores, my Tao sister Regina Casano, and Cavalier Ramil Roberto B. Enriquez.

Belated greetings also go to Sarah Sulay, daughter of my judo teammate Stefan, who turned a year older yesterday.

Today’s greetings go to Jeremy Pepito, and Lt. Col. Jun Torres of the Philippine Army.

More power to all of you!