CEBU, Philippines - Such is the case of the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) volleyball players.
Under the CESAFI rulebook, athletes are prohibited from participating in any other sporting events while the tournament is going on.
However, CESAFI commissioner Felix “Boy” O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. said the volleyball players are exempted from such provision as the league allows them to see action in the Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup, a province-wide competition spearheaded by the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) currently headed by Andrew C. Choachuy.
“We will allow our volleyball players to compete in GUV Cup because of our prior agreement with CEVA and the good governor of Cebu (Gwen Garcia). Afterall, we are very supportive of any effort geared towards the development and promotion of the sport in Cebu,” said Tiukinhoy during a meeting with the different tournament managers the other night at the conference room of Cebu Coliseum.
The CESAFI volleyball event is scheduled to be held from August 18 to October 6, while CEVA usually unfurls its GUV Cup season either in August or September.
If ever there will be a conflict of schedule, CESAFI deputy commissioner Danilo G. Villadolid said the school must be the top priority of the concerned parties.
University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) head coach Grace Antigua, of her part, is very elated with CESAFI's decision.
“I'm happy and thankful about the decision of the CESAFI. Though that, we could maximize exposure opportunities for our players,” said Antigua.
Meanwhile, all the tournaments’ managers and coaches will meet again this morning at the Audio Visual Room of USJ-R to thresh out some issues and finalize the details relative to the staging of their respective events.
The submission of lineup of qualified players for basketball, on the other hand, is set on Monday, while a refresher course for coaches and referees will be held on July 17-18.
The most awaited part is the formal opening of the 12th CESAFI season on July 29 at the Cebu Coliseum. (FREEMAN)