CEC Dragons raring to defend title

CEBU, Philippines - With the amount of preparations they underwent during the off-season, there's a strong indication that the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, the defending juniors champion of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), are poised to retain the crown they won in historic fashion eight months ago.

The Dragons have devoted a lot of time preparing for the 11th CESAFI season set to open on August 7.They have played several tune-up games to keep them cohesive, gain more exposure and raise their confidence level so that when the actual competition is on, they will become more mature.

Coach Jerry Jaranilla, who is still basking on the glow of an amazing rookie season last year, readily admitted that he would be telling a lie if he don't admit he is pressured this year because of the crowd's expectations being the defending titlist.

The Dragons defeated the Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu Blue Eaglets last year in the CESAFI finals for CEC's first ever major accomplishment in the field of basketball.

The Dragons, who will be playing against the rejuvenated University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers in the opening day, lost eight of their key players but still they became champion of the junior Cebu Basketball Association (CBA) last June by beating the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors.

Four of their vital cogs are now with the University of the East (UE) Warriors in the UAAP under coach Jerry Codiñera but only Benjamin James Zosa is playing, while juniors MVP Nike Montalvo, Roy Vincent Villarias and Mark Anthony Olayon are placed in Team B and will see action next year.

Jaranilla said they are lucky to have replaced the said players with almost the same strength, if not, better. Six of the eight rookies came from their Passarelle program, while two are prized catch from Bacolod City.

The holdovers from last season are Marven Bauya, Luther Huevos, Jefferson Jones Roxas and James Neil Sumayang. The departure of Zosa also paved the way for the entry of his younger brother John Julius.

The recruits from Bacolod are John Charmel Caspe and Raymar Jose.

In showing their great potentials, the Dragons even defeated the Cebu institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats during their tune-up match recently. Jaranilla said he was impressed of the outcome for the fact they won against a collegiate team.

Jaranilla added the Dragons also played two collegiate tams in Iloilo City and Roxas City and won two out of three games. They visited some cities where the vessels of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, pwned by CEC alumnus Chestrer Cokaliong, are plying.

The official CEC Dragons roster to the CESAFI this season is composed of Michael Balankig, Marven Bauya, Marvin Berdera, Neil Christopher Bracero, Jesus Grijaldo, Luther Huevos, Karl Pestaño, Jefferson Jones Roxas, Anecito Alfred Sedillo, James Neil Sumayang, Rex Darwin Villarosa, Dominic Yap, John Julius Zosa, John Charmel Caspe and Raymar Jose. - THE FREEMAN