THE BATTLE for the championship in the collegiate division will be shorter and fiercer than usual, as the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Board of Trustees approved the proposal to amend the finals series to just a best-of-three series.
The change is just one of several that were given the green light by the Cesafi Board during their meeting on Wednesday evening.
Another prominent change is that of the playing eligibility of student-athletes who are over the age limit cut-off for high school but are still in high school due to the establishment of Senior High.
“A senior high school student-athlete who is over the age limit cut-off for the high school division is eligible to play in the collegiate division of the same school system in which he/she is enrolled,” the amended rule now states.
“The student-athlete’s academic requirements will be the same as that for high school (must be taking all subjects for his grade level vis-à-vis 15 units for college student-athletes),” it continued.
The rule regarding a student-athlete who transfers from one Cesafi member school to another was also clarified as this statement was added: “A student-athlete, who transfers from one member school to another, does not need to serve a one-year residency provided that the Athletic Director of his/her previous school issues a document or statement releasing him from serving the one-year residency; making him eligible to play.”
The semifinal format of the collegiate division was also changed to a crossover format with the top two teams with the best records after the double round-robin elimination round, enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.
Futsal demo sport
In other developments outside of basketball, futsal will be added as a demo sport this season with just the women’s division. This was to address the fast-growing sport for ladies. It has also been a regular sport in the intramurals of most Cesafi schools. Initial schools that have committed to join are USC, USJR, CDU and SHS-Ateneo. Others are expected to join now that it has been approved.
The Cesafi opens on Aug. 5 at the Cebu Coliseum. The grand event will also see recognition for two of the league’s founding members who just recently passed away: Engr. Gregorio Escario and Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal Jr.
Opening the league will be high school and collegiate games between the University of Cebu and Southwestern University-Phinma.
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