SAME OLD PROBLEM

Academic struggles of players continue to hound CIT-U in upcoming Cesafi hoops

Like a bad record stuck on repeat, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats just could not get out of their way as they once again face an uphill climb in the coming season of the Cesafi collegiate basketball wars.

According to head coach Bembem Alcaraz, the Wildcats are facing the same problems as last year, with most of their better players saddled with academic troubles.

“This year, our college team still has problems with players who could not play due to failing grades. It has been the same problem last year. Our captain Marlo Pono has already graduated. Our team will surely suffer because of their absence,” said the veteran mentor.

Alcaraz, however, said that there is a silver lining to their campaign this season with the return of Mark Kong, a crafty left-handed forward with a knack for finding ways to score inside in spite being undersized for his position.

“Mark Kong is back in the team and I can trust him because he’s been a player under me since high school so I know how to maximize his talent,” Alcaraz said.

But Alcaraz expressed his frustrations with not having the best players at his disposal for the Wildcats’ campaign to return to the upper echelon of the Cesafi.

“From a coach’s point of view, [it is] very very frustrating. I have talented players who can win it for the team. But such is life. It is what it is. In the long run, they will learn from this. If we plead to their teachers to let them pass, it won’t help them and it just won’t be aligned with the vision the CIT-U for its students.”

With a roster full of untested players, Alcaraz pointed to his skipper Illouise Rossel, Jemcerson Sable and Fil-American recruit Dante Simmons to carry the team.

“I want to win games but most important is that I want these players to mature and to bring their A-game for the school because after all, we want to bring honor and glory to CIT-U,” added Alcaraz.