Tiukinhoy says CESAFI has moral duty to uphold

Misbehaving players, coaches and even school officials - beware.

A stricter and more stringent penalties will be imposed on erring parties in the sixth season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) which opens with the basketball event on July 22 at the Cebu Coliseum.

In doing this, CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jnr said they should not be misconstrued as being "too harsh" for they are merely upholding the league's moral responsibility to everyone concerned.

"This (CESAFI) is a school league. This is not a commercial league. There are moral values that we have to look at and there is discipline that has to be followed. We would like to instill these values to them. If we're not going to start it in school, they might bring it to other leagues," said Tiukinhoy.

Tiukinhoy emphasized it is not only the players who should observe proper sense of decorum at all times, but also the coaches and school officials as they bear with them the primary duty of keeping the good image and dignity of their respective schools.

"The coaches should act as good role models to the players. They must always preserve the dignity of their schools they represent," added Tiukinkoy in a brief chat with reporters after yesterday's SCOOP-Cebu forum yesterday at Baseline Restaurant.

Although it still needs the approval of the CESAFI Board under the leadership of Engr. Oscar Tuason of Cebu Doctors' University (CDU), Tiukinkoy cited some of the sanctions for a particular infraction that will enforced by the league this year.

Tiukinhoy said if a team stages a walkout, it will be banned for the rest of the tournament aside from being fined P25,000.

A player found guilty of submitting fraudulent documents will be meted with a lifetime ban. If a school official is involved, an additional P10,000 fine will be assessed.

For unsporstmanlike behavior, a player/coach will be suspended for five games plus a P10,000 fine, while those involved in a melee will be sanctioned with a five-game banishment.

Meanwhile, it's all systems go for the kick-off bash of the CESAFI basketball event.

The Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves will make their debut in the collegiate cage wars against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in the main game, while the CDU women's squad will clash with the University of Cebu (UC) Lady Webmasters in the season-opener.

Before the hardcourt hostilities, an elaborate opening rites will take place highlighted by the grand "Dance Palabas" showdown as well as the search for Miss CESAFI 2006 in the juniors and seniors categories.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez is the guest of honor and speaker. His younger brother Jay is the head coach of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

Ramirez will also formally induct into office the 2006 CESAFI officials. They are CDU's Tuason (president), Gregorio Escario of Cebu Institute of Technology (vice president), Atty. Teodoro Diez of Velez College (secretary), Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD of USC (treasurer), Fr. Roland Guiao of DBTC (auditor) and Dr. Alicia Cabatingan of University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Lassie Holopainen of Southwestern University (PROs).

The CESAFI Board members include Dr. Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas of the University of the Visayas, Atty. Augusto W. Go of UC, Rev. Anthony A. Morillo, OAR of USJ-R and Kho Siok We of Cebu Eastern College.