Asst. coaches of Ateneo de Cebu, CBSAA suspended

A commotion erupts in Game 1 of the Cesafi high school finals between coaches and players of Ateneo de Cebu and City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy. CDN Digital photo | Dale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy confirmed that the assistant coaches of both the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA) Trailblazers will be suspended.

Magis Eagles assistant coach Francis Aoquico and Trailblazers’ Denzel Sabroso are suspended and will be required to pay a P10,000 fine each for their involvement in the commotion that disrupted Game 1 of the Best-of-Three finals of the Cesafi high school division on Sunday, December 11, 2022. 

“Automatic suspension because they were ejected from the game,” Tiukinhoy said in a text message to this writer.

However, Tiukinhoy, as of this posting, didn’t say if both assistant coaches will be suspended throughout the entire finals series or not. 

Besides the suspension and P10,000 fine, both coaches could possibly be required to do four-hour community service. 

The commotion happened with 3:22 remaining in the second period after the Magis Eagles’ Alden Cainglet joined the Trailblazers’ huddle during a dead ball situation.

Cainglet was pushed away by  Trailblazers head coach Leode Garcia for interrupting their huddle. This started the commotion. 

The players and coaching staff of the Magis Eagles and the Trailblazers confronted each other, resulting to some shoving and pushing. 

A Cesafi live streaming video showed that Aoquico confronted Sabroso for pushing one of his players. 

Fortunately, Cesafi officials, with the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, were quick to pacify the situation.

Additional PNP personnel were later deployed at the Cebu Coliseum. 

This isn’t the first time a coach was suspended this season.

It can be recalled that in October, Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U)  head coach Edsel Vallena was suspended for two games and was fined with P10,000 for allegedly challenging  University of San Jose-Recoletos coach Edito Salacut to a fist fight. 

Meanwhile, Game 2 for the high school division finals is slated Tuesday, December 13. 

The Magis Eagles try to win it all against the Trailblazers in Game 2 slated 5:15 p.m. 

/bmjo

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