CESAFI braces for All-Star show

CEBU, Philippines - The commissioner's office of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. has released the list of players who will be seeing action in the 2016 CESAFI All-Star show pitting the West versus the East this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

However, the selection of coaches has stirred a bit of controversy this time.

Normally, the top performing coaches at the end of the classification stage will be tapped to call the shots for their respective sides.

Following such custom, Raul 'Yayoy' D. Alcoseba of the Southwestern University-Phinma should have been the East coach for steering the Cobras to a 12-0 sweep in the double round elimination and either Jun Noel of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars or Gary Cortes of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers for the West.

Interestingly, Kennth Kern Sesante of the University of Cebu Webmasters and Albert Alocillo of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers have been designated as East and West coach, respectively.

The same goes in the juniors division.

Instead of Rommel Rasmo of three-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, Rod del Rosario of the Cebu Eastern College Dragons will diagram plays for the East. Phil Mercader of the UV Baby Lancers will do the job for the West.

CESAFI commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. though is quick to defend the league's move by saying that they are doing it to give other coaches a chance.

"The All-Star coach can be anybody. Also, we are rotating the coaches to give every coach a chance to experience an All-Star game. Otherwise, we will be stuck with the same coaches every year,"said Tiukinhoy.

Sought for comment, Alcoseba has no qualms about the new league rule. "It's good for other coaches to coach an All-Star game. I don't have any problem about it," he said.

Meanwhile, SWU's  Bernie Bregondo, Shaq Imperial, Jovanie Luz, Ian Ortega, Mark Jayven Tallo and Quentin Nzuzi will banner  the East All-Stars in the collegiate battle.

They will join forces with USC's Conrad Catapusan, Lucky Ecarma, Ian Tagapan, Kevin Oleodo and Victor Rabat, UC's Peter Codilla, Justine Dacalos, Garciano Puerto and Gileant Delator and CIT-U's John Lucena and Marlo Pono.

 The West, on the other hand, will be bannered by UV's Rey Suerte, Alfred Codilla, Sosue Segumpan, Jan Soliva, Jerome Napao and Bassieru Sackor, USJ-R's Ralph Dinolan, Miguel Gastador, Jaybie Mantilla, and Nelvin Navarra, and USPF's Lyndon Colina, Roy Quiachon and Gilberto Sastrillas.

In the juniors level, the East is composed of SHS-Ateneo's Jed Colonia, Eroll Pastor, Christian Manaytay, Travis Mantua and Andrew Velasco, Don Bosco's John Damolo, Juan Miguel de la Torre and Al Mendez, CEC's Kaise Dave Manlapat, Harvey Sanchez and James Tempra, SWU-Phinma's Patrick Montaño and Diether Quijada and USC's Rafael Garro and Gerald Iñigo.

They will go up against the West manned by UV's Jancork Cabahug, Froiland Maglasang, Marvin Oche and Mike Bayaton, UC's John Cuyos, Yannick Enriquez, Luigi Gabisan and Gelmart Umpad, USJ-R's Dave Ando, John Gonzaga and Joshua Ortiz, USPF's Gabriel

Cometa and Vincent Lequin and CIT-U's Marion Abinuman and Ivan Ares. (FREEMAN)