CEBU, Philippines - In an unprecedented move in Cebu sports, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. will implement a mandatory drug test for all collegiate basketball players who are qualified to see action in the CESAFI Season 13 set to take off on August 3 at the Cebu Coliseum.
Such ground-breaking rule in the local hoopdom was upheld by the league's top officials during their regular board meeting recently at Choi City Restaurant.
"To be fair to everybody, we want to subject all collegiate basketball players to a mandatory drug test as part of our thrust to preserve the clean image and protect the integrity of the league. We strongly feel that certain measures must be in place for the best interest of the CESAFI," said commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr.
The concerned schools need not worry about the expenses that will be incurred in going through such process as the league will pay for its actual costs.
Leading by example relative to the enforcement of this new ruling, Tiukinhoy said he and all his deputies including the referees and table officials will also undergo similar tests.
"I myself will undergo drug test as well as my deputies to set a good example for the rest to follow. Nobody would be exempted. This drug testing is not only for the players but also for the coaches and other bench officials. If they won't subject themselves to drug test, they won't be issued IDs, and that means they cannot sit on their bench," Tiukinhoy said.
Tiukinhoy added that the compulsory drug test will take effect only after they have already identified all players who are eligible to complete in the forthcoming CESAFI cage wars. That means after July 15, which has been set for the final screening of athletes.
Tiukinhoy said those who will be tested positive of taking any prohibited drugs will be meted with indifinite suspension. If confirmatory tests would yield the same results, those errring players will be banned for life from participating in any CESAFI-sanctioned tournaments.
Tiukinhoy, on the other hand, looks forward to a more exciting and highly competitive 13th season of the region's premerie school-based athletic league.
"The 13th CESAFI season is going to be more exciting, something that fans should watch out for mainly because of the presence of at least two foreign players beefing up each team," said Tiukinhoy. "Though the likes of UV, SWU and USC are tipped as the early favorites, the other teams are also capable of putting up a good fight."
Some minor changes have also been effect on the format. They teams will still play a single round robin in the elimination round, with the topseed earning an outright semifinal seat, while the second to fourth seeds will enjoy twice-to-beat incentives over the lower-ranked squads in the quarterfinals.
The winners will then join the top qualifier in the semifinal round, which is double round robin. The top two finishers will then clash for the championship in a best-of-five series in the seniors division and a best-of-three affair in the juniors category.
Tiukinhoy, meanwhile, revealed that CCTN Channel 47 and Studio 23 of giant TV network ABS-CBN have expressed their interest to cover the CESAFI games. "But nothing is final as of the moment as they haven't submitted yet their respective proposals. Hopefully, we would be able to reach a good deal with either of the two networks," he said.