MANILA, Philippines - After a three-year absence, the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) under the reins of highly esteemed sportsman Chester C. Cokaliong returns to Cebu sports scene with its 12th season set to kick off with an exciting triple-header this afternoon at the Cebu Coliseum.
Being the league founder and its incumbent president, Cokaliong relishes with pride CECABA's comeback in the local hoopdom.
"Being the founder and incumbent president of our organization who will take the lead for this season again after the said three-year inactivity, I would request for every member's unwavering support. Everyone of us knows that organizing an activity of this magnitude is no easy task, hence, it is of utmost importance that all of us must cooperate in order to achieve the same success that we are aiming for," said Cokaliong.
"I am confident to say to you that CECABA is already a success in itself since it is where we got to know and became acquainted with each other, starting from Batch 1967 from Batch 2009. Certainly, this will continue to serve its purpose this season and in the years to come," he added.
Just like in the last edition in 2010, a total of 16 teams will see action in the league that features a total of 120 games in the elimination round alone.
Cokaliong, a sharp-shooter who is undoubtedly one of the brightest cagers CEC has ever produced, will showcase his wares with the Pilipinas Shell-sponsored Class '80s. They will go up against 3R Audio '98 in the season opener at 3 pm.
Dewfoam '88 will mix it up with New Millennium Hardware '95 at 4:30 pm, while Young Builders Corp. '91 will square off against JEPOY '99 in the final match of the day at 6 pm.
Before the hardcourt hostilities, a simple opening ceremony will take place at 1 pm to be graced by Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama.
The rest of the contending squads in the 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup are Argentina Corned Beef '84/87/90, Las Vegas KTV-MK16 Disco '94, The 1st Family Appliance Circle '96, JV Shop n Shop '97, Dimsum Frito 2003, Best World Lifestyle 2004, PTT 2005, First ACY Shipping Corp. 2006, Wild Rice 2007 and Fil-Ann 2009. (FREEMAN)