Lassina Coulibaly (second from left) with (from left) UV head coach Gary Cortez, UV team manager Samsam Gullas and tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr. contributed photo
The reigning Cesafi champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers are not letting their guard down as they bolstered their formidable roster with another foreign player Lassina Coulibaly.
Standing 6-foot-9, the forward from Ivory Coast had initially wanted to play for UAAP powerhouse La Salle. However, a roster logjam there left him needing a place to play at.
Fortunately, tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr, La Salle’s biggest supporter, was able to lend a hand after reaching out to UV for a possible roster spot.
“They reached out to us. They told us they have a new foreigner who stands 6’9, weighs 260 pounds and they no longer have a spot for him on the team. They were looking for school that can have him and luckily, we were on top of that list and that’s why we went there to talk to Mr. Cojuangco,” said Green Lancers team manager, Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, who personally went to see Cojuangco. He was joined in that said meeting by the Green Lancers’ head coach Gary Cortes.
“We’re still talking but we’re 98 percent sure that he will be playing here,” added the Representative of the First District of Cebu.
Good for Sackour
Cortes clarified that the team’s incumbent foreign player, Liberian Bassiere Sackour, is still playing with the team but should expect more competition for the spot once Coulibaly comes to town later this year. He went on to say that this development should bode well, especially for Sackour.
“I know he will do his best to improve his basketball skills. That’s why it’s good to have a little bit of competition for that lone spot,” Cortes said.
Coulibaly is no stranger to Cebu basketball after having played with the M. Lhuillier-University of Cebu in the Sinulog Cup back in January.
Coulibaly is expected to arrive in UV in May, when the school’s dormitory for the athletes is expected to be finished.
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