AS GAMES are expected to be more intense, stricter rules will be implemented in the quarterfinal round of the 2017 Cebu Governor’s Cup 21-Under Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament.
Lawyer Ramil Abing, executive director of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC), warned that stiffer penalties await erring players and coaches.
With the single round-robin quarterfinal phase set to start tomorrow in Samboan town, south Cebu, league officials, led by Abing, met with mayors, team managers, coaches and representatives of the 12 teams competing in the quarterfinals last Wednesday.
Starting in the quarterfinal round, a punching foul or players engaging in a fistfight will be severely penalized.
“Players who committed punching foul must be ejected right away from the playing venue and should be automatically disqualified from further participation for the rest of the tournament or may be perpetually disqualified in any tournament organized or sponsored by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, depending on the gravity of the offense. Coaches who are ejected from the game for more than two times shall be meted with the same penalty,” the amendment rule stated.
In the elimination round, a punching foul only merited a one-game suspension.
Rules involving the players and coaches’ uniform will also be strictly implemented in the quarterfinals.
Comprising the quarterfinalists in the North Division are Mandaue City (5–0), Tuburan (6–0), Bogo City (5–0), Consolacion (4–1), Balamban (5–1) and Bantayan (3–2).
The South Division quarterfinalists are Toledo City (5–0), Talisay City (4–1), Dalaguete (5–1), Minglanilla (4–1), Samboan (4–2) and Barili (3–2).
Kicking off the quarterfinal action in Samboan is the match-up between Toledo City and Barili at 5 p.m., followed by the encounter between Talisay City and Minglanilla at 6:30 p.m.
Samboan will then lock horns with Dalaguete in the 8 p.m. main match.
Mandaue City will host the second day of the quarterfinal round on Monday.