ONE of the reasons for the Wildcats’ optimism heading to the 2015 season is the return of wily pointguard Wilkins Sanchez.
WILL the winds of change finally favor the CIT-U Wildcats this year?
For years now, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats have gingerly walked along the lines of being competitive and dwelling at the bottom. But with a new captain manning the ship, the continued development of their young players and the return of a veteran guard, can the winds of change finally favor the Wildcats this season?
If incoming head coach Bembem Alcaraz’s assessment of his squad is to be believed, the Wildcats are set to breakout and break into serious contention, provided that they play with hunger, passion and focus – things they displayed in their monumental, 67-60 upset of the then-champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers in their opening game last season.
“If muduwa sila ug in-ato ka-agresibo, then tan-aw nako naa mi chance na makasud sa semifinals,” boldly said Alcaraz, who was thrust into the head coaching position after long-time mentor and former pro Gilbert Demape’s impending trip to the United States.
This season, the Wildcats will not be lacking teeth with the continuing growth of junior forward Joshua dela Cerna and the veteran leadership of Allan Dimco. Dela Cerna retains his position as the team’s top gunner after leading the squad in scoring last year with an average of 16.6 points per game.
Still, Alcaraz believes that dela Cerna is capable of doing so much more.
“Ako na siya gi-ingnan na kung gusto niya mudaug ang team, dapat jud siya mu-trabaho. Pero dapat within the team game ra gihapon. Last year, kabantay man gud ko na pagma-depensahan na siya, mangita na jud siya sa iyaha puntos. Pugson na niya ba,” remarked Alcaraz.
In spite of their glaring lack of height and the school’s insistence on not recruiting a foreign player to shore up their frontcourt, dela Cerna asserted that they have enough to make a solid run this season.
“If we play our running game, then naa mi chance maka-compete against the rest of the field, even those na naay imports. Maybe makasulod pa mi sa semis.”
CIT-U’s backcourt also welcomed back wily veteran Wilkins Sanchez, a lithe guard who won a Cesafi juniors title with the Wildkittens back in 2009 when he played alongside current Cesafi MVP, Mark Jayven Tallo.
After two years playing for the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, Sanchez finds himself back with the Wildcats, a move that was lauded by Alcaraz.
“Dako kaayu na siyag tabang sa amoa kay kailangan jud nako ug player na makadala sa team. Beterano na man na siya so dako ko ug pagsalig ana niya,” said Alcaraz.
With a healthy mix of veterans such as Jeffrey Taghoy, Steven Bucao, Jose Pono and young guns such as former Mapua Red Robin, Jocrio Kristoffer Mumar, Jesse Aloro and Mark Kong, CIT-U is certainly primed to pounce on the rest of the Cesafi competitors this year.