Players, coaches, still coming to terms with Yayoy Alcoseba’s shocking move to UC
The appointment of local legend Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba as new head coach of the University of Cebu (UC) was met with both shock and awe as players and fellow coaches alike struggled to wrap their heads around the fact that the veteran mentor would now be donning the yellow and blue, after leading the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras to two titles in five years.
UC’s longtime team manager Atty. Baldomero Estenzo lauded Alcoseba’s addition to the team, saying that his experience would greatly help the Webmasters’ largely inexperienced corps.
“Yayoy (Alcoseba), with his wealth of experience, will be a welcome addition to the college basketball team,” said the longtime UC official.
However, for most of the Webmasters, the development remains a raw topic as they have come to consider erstwhile coach Kern Sesante to be a father of sorts.
“It’s tough. I don’t know how we will all adjust. I feel sad for coach Kern (Sesante). He’s such a kind person for this to happen to him,” said UC guard Justine Dacalos.
UC alumni Edward Pao and Janjan Auditor, who got to play for Alcoseba in his one and only season with the Cobras back in 2015, said they were caught unaware by the coaching change. Nevertheless, they both agreed that Alcoseba’s arrival augurs well for the Webmasters’ title aspirations.
“I’m sad that an unproven, successful alumnus who was barely getting his feet wet got replaced. But I am happy they got a legendary, well-respected coach that knows how to get the best out of his players and most importantly, he knows how to win,” said Pao, who was part of the back-to-back title winning Webmasters team in 2010 and 2011.
“I’m just shocked because I could never imagine coach Yayoy being the head coach of UC. It reminds me of the funny incident of him and Joever Samonte,” recalled Pao with a snicker.
Alcoseba nearly got into it with Samonte, the current head coach of the UC Baby Webmasters, who was then an assistant on the college team, after the series’ end in Game Five.
Auditor, on the other hand, shared that Sesante and this batch of Webmasters had a special bond that went well beyond the confines of the basketball court.
“I have mixed feelings about this. I feel sad for the players since I saw that they’re not just a team, but more like a family. They have a great bond and Coach Kern really supports them. On the other hand, I’m happy since I know Coach Yayoy would help this team a lot.”
Current SWU head coach and athletic director Mike Reyes said that it would now be “awkward” to coach against Alcoseba, whom he has been on the same sidelines with since 2005.
“It’s awkward but that always happens in any sport,” shared Reyes.