Debuting teams take center stage in 2026 CESAFI season openers

CEBU, Philippines — Three debuting teams - two in high school and one in college - will be tested right away as they take center stage in the season-opening matches of the 2026 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament on August 29 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The PAREF Springdale Titans of coach Jax Bautista and the San Roque College de Cebu (SRCDC) Greyhounds of coach Jeff Codera will clash in the first game of CESAFI’s 26th season.

In the main match, the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) collegiate squad under the guidance of coach Dondon Hontiveros will have their baptism of fire in Cebu’s premier inter-school athletic league against the Alan Cabatingan-mentored University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers.

In all, 13 teams led by reigning five-peat champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles of coach Rommel Rasmo are vying for the juniors crown.

Also in the title mix are last year’s runner-up University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters and their sister-team UCLM, third-placer Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Junior Wildcats, University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors, Benedicto College (BC) Baby Cheetahs, USPF Baby Panthers, University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, Don Bosco Greywolves, and Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons.

On the other hand, eight teams bannered by four-peat champions UV Green Lancers of coach Gary Cortes will slug it out for the championship honors in the college division.

Out to challenge the UV Lancers’ dominant reign are their archrivals UC Webmasters, USJ-R Jaguars, USPF Panthers, CIT-U Wildcats, BC Cheetahs, USC Warriors, and newcomers UCLM.

Meanwhile, the CEC Baby Dragons and the CIT-U Baby Wildcats are all set to defend their respective thrones.

CEC aims for an unprecedented fourth consecutive crown in the 12 Under, while CIT-U seeks back-to-back titles in the 15 Under category.