MAYOR MAD AT UV
Mayor Ricky Ramirez (CDN FILE PHOTO)
Mayor Ricky Rodriguez Ramirez III of Medellin town, northern Cebu cried foul after the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.’s (Cesafi) perennial champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers staged a walkout during their game in the Cebu City Mayor’s Cup Summer Basketball League versus the University of San Carlos (USC) late Saturday night at the Medellin Sports Complex.
According to Ramirez, who was interviewed by Cebu Daily News yesterday afternoon, he was “very, very disgusted” at the actions of the Green Lancers, who decided to cut the game short and walk out of it in the middle of the third period as a sign of protest to the perceived inconsistencies in the way the game was officiated.
“I saw how full the sports complex was and I could just imagine the frustration of the people who were watching,” said Ramirez.
According to a source who watched the game, UV was ahead by nine halfway through the third canto when Green Lancer wingman Josue Segumpan was called for consecutive fouls while trying to defend USC import Shooster Olago. This irked UV head coach Gary Cortes, who immediately beckoned to the rest of his troops to board the bus. Not long after, they drove off back to the city, much to the chagrin of the stunned crowd.
‘SHAME ON UV’
When informed of the development, Ramirez let go of a scathing post on social media site Facebook late Saturday evening.
“Mao ni gitudlo sa inyu diha sa eskwelahan?” part of the post read. (Is that what you’re taught in school?) “Akoy malouy sa taga Medellin nga ning gradwar sa UV kay daw ika uwaw kaayu ang gibuhat diri sa atong lungsod. (I pity those from Medellin who graduated from UV because what they did here in our town is very shameful.) They say UV has a glorious history of always being a champion but [tonight], what everyone saw was a team that [is] a bully and manned by scoundrels and scalawags. Shame on you UV.”
But Ramirez was far from finished. Yesterday, he demanded from UV that Cortes be fired from his position so that the school’s credibility could be repaired and restored.
Medellin Vice Mayor Al Lim, who witnessed the incident, was also critical of Cortes’ decision to abruptly end their participation in the game.
“Suko kaayo ang mga tawo. (People were very angry) He did not even have the courtesy to talk to me or tell us what his reasons were. He did that in front of 6,000 people,” Lim said. “We will talk about this incident on Monday and the council will file a resolution condemning that act.”
SAFETY OF PLAYERS
Cortes, though, said that it was nothing personal and that he was only looking after the safety of the players of both teams, especially since the game’s physicality was ramping up.
“I would much rather face an investigation rather than compromise the safety of the players,” said Cortes, who is expected to be summoned by UV team manager and Cebu First District representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas today.
Cortes said the game was heating up late in the second period when UV guard Jun Manzo and Olago got entangled. This led to a confrontation between Cortes and Cesar Ortega, the father of USC guard Ian Ortega, at halfcourt. Cooler heads prevailed and the game continued but not for long.
Gullas also expressed his disappointment with the incident.
“Wala ko kauyon sa nahitabo na walkout. (I am not in favor of the walkout that happened.) Ever since, I have never been in favor of staging a walkout. Mao jud na akong baruganan, (That’s what I stand for,)” Gullas said while adding that he will endeavor to iron out their differences on the issue as soon as possible.