CRMC Mustangs ready to compete in Cesafi 2023
Members of CRMC Mustangs men’s basketball team. | Contributed photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs athletic director Mark Malazarte felt a sigh of relief after the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) board approved last week their application as the newest member school.
Malazarte told CDN Digital that they felt uncertain if the Cesafi board would approve their application since they were the last team to be announced.
Also they were apprehensive that their joining this year’s Cesafi would be affected by the passing of former Bogo City Mayor and well-known sportsman Celestino ‘Junie’ Martinez Jr. last June.
“We felt relieved with the news [of our inclusion in the Cesafi] since we were the last to be announced and because there was already this sense of uncertainty when the late Sir Junie Martinez passed away. But with the help of Bogo City Mayor Carlo Martinez and provincial board member Tining Martinez, we got here and made our dreams come true. As they say, they always save the best for last,” said Malazarte.
Malazarte is a regular fixture in northern Cebu’s basketball scene being the team manager of the vaunted Consolacion Sarok Weavers and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA) Trailblazers.
The CBSAA Trailblazers were the first school from Bogo City to compete in Cesafi as a probationary member. Its high school basketball team shocked Cesafi when it won all of its elimination round matches and finished first runners-up behind champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles.
The Mustangs are the 11th member of the Cesafi. Their entry was officially announced a week after the Cesafi board welcomed its fellow Bogo-based school, the Felipe R. Verallo Foundation College (FRVFC) Blue Dragons.
“We are all very excited, especially the team since we have been preparing for this big day since February. The opening of Cesafi on September 23 will be an emotional day for us since this is a culmination of our dreams,” Malazarte said.
RIGID TRAINING
Malazarte assured Cebuano basketball fans that the Mustangs will be a competitive team in the Cesafi.
He said that they have been training since early this year and have joined various local tournaments to sharpen their players’ skills and create team chemistry.
“We can’t promise a championship this season, but we can guarantee everyone that we will come prepared every game and give other teams a run for their money,” said Malazarte.
However, the Mustangs will likely compete only in basketball since they were uncertain of the Cesafi board’s approval for their application. / dcb
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