After a year’s break from the men’s basketball tournament of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), the University of Southern Philippines Panthers are raring to get back into the hardcourt with a new team led by newly-appointed head coach Albert Alocillo and his trusted assistant Joph Cleopas.
Though lacking in height, Alocillo, who has had experience coaching for the Cebu Eastern College Dragons and the USP-F Baby Panthers, promised that the squad he is forming will never lack for heart.
And he is holding on to the hope that the heavens will leave a big man right on the Panthers’ doorsteps……soon.
“Sa pagka-karon, wala jud mi big man. If only we had a couple of 6’5”- players, we would be really competitive. The tallest player we have right now is only 6’2”. We have a pool of 20 players practicing and by the end of May, I think I will be able to finalize the roster,” said Alocillo of his neophyte squad that features several former Baby Panthers who clinched third place in the juniors competition last year.
These include point guard John Alocillo and hardworking wingmen Clyde Avancena and Carl Carbajosa.
Though his squad may not be composed of household names, Alocillo is hugely confident in his players.
“On the court, they will be competitive. We have a system in place and we have players who can play in that system. Off the court, I expect them to be students that will represent the school and the virtues that our institution stand for,” remarked Alocillo.
Cleopas, the current coach of the Baby Panthers, added that he expects this squad to make an impact in the collegiate wars with no less than a seat in the Final Four as the goal.
“I think it’s doable. The players are working hard each day but we’re hoping that we’ll get one big man to man the shaded lane. If not, we’ll work with who we have,” said Cleopas.
USP-F is trying to make it back to the upper echelons of the league, a position they once held during the league’s early days behind the play of such distinguished alumni as Jett Latonio and Elvis Labares to name a few. However, the Panthers have fallen on tough times in the half-decade which culminated in head coach Raul Latonio letting go of his position back in 2013.
USP-F, however, is hopeful that this year will be the start of something big for the slick Panthers.