CESAFI’S finest basketball players will get the experience of a lifetime as they battle their hardcourt idols in the Recoletos Invitation on November 9 to 11 at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) gym in Basak, Pardo.
According to USJ-R head coach Jun Noel, who will man the Cesafi All Star squad that will compete in the single round-robin competition, his squad will battle it out with the Meralco Bolts, the recent runners-up of the PBA Governors’ Cup, and the NLEX Road Warriors. A third PBA team has yet to be confirmed their participation but Noel said that the Purefoods Star Hotshots and Phoenix Petroleum were both interested in coming over.
The team with the highest number of wins at the end of the round-robin tournament will be named the champion.
“I can’t tell you how incredible this opportunity is for the players to be on the same floor and compete against these PBA players. I especially told Macmac Tallo to take advantage of this opportunity since he is planning to get drafted in the PBA D-League, to show these coaches what he can do. The same goes for the rest of my players,” said the affable, veteran mentor.
Noel said that he has already gotten the go signal from University of the Visayas (UV) head coach Gary Cortes and Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma athletic director Mike Reyes to borrow their players.
Suiting up from the Cesafi champions UV are Liberian forward Bassieru Sackor, Josue Segumpan and league MVP, Rey Suerte, while from the Cobras, Noel has secured the services of Tallo, big man Bernie Bregondo, guard John Lloyd Luz and forward Mac Racho. Noel has also tapped his own players to compete for the Cesafi All Stars, namely RJ Dinolan, Miguel Gastador, Nelvin Navarra, Tricky Peromingan, Jaybie Mantilla and Nigerian big man Sega Kingsley, who used to play for Ateneo’s Team B.
Noel also mentioned that he is interested in letting current Far Eastern University Team B campaigner, Rendell Senining, play for his squad. Senining used to suit up for the Baby Jaguars and eventually, the Jaguars, before taking his act to National University and FEU.