Due to academic issues, five SWU players deemed ineligible to play in Cesafi wars
With a little over two weeks remaining before the new season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) starts, the reigning champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras saw their once-mighty frontcourt got cut down to size after Congolese Mupungu Boko, veteran forwards Bernie Bregondo and Daryl Goloran, and up-and-coming center Rey Mark Acuno were deemed ineligible to play because of academic issues.
The unexpected development was confirmed by both SWU head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba and the school’s athletic director, Ryan Aznar in separate interviews.
Aside from the aforementioned players, also expected to sit out this season for the very same reason mentioned above is sharpshooter Anton Pardo.
This leaves the Cobras without much height and heft to battle a whole crop of contenders eager to dethrone the titleholders, notably last year’s runners-up, University of San Carlos (USC), who the Cobras are set to face in their season-opener on Aug. 3 and nine-time champions University of the Visayas (UV).
Alcoseba, always the brash and bold one, said that he doesn’t care who’s left on his team and that he will still swing for the fences this season and gun for a second straight title. “I will coach whatever is left of our team,” said the Provincial Board Member.
Left to man the shaded lane are Melvin Holper, rookie forwards Juju Bautista and Kier Clam, Mac Racho and new recruit Janjan Auditor, a former champion with the University of Cebu (UC) who chose to play his final year of eligibility with the Cobras in the hopes of going out on a blaze of glory.
But in spite of the predicament the team finds itself in, Auditor remained hopeful with the remaining players they have.
“I’m so unlucky!” said Auditor with a hearty laugh. “But really, it’s a big challenge for us because SWU is the defending champion and the basketball fans are expecting a lot from us and the team this season but it looks like we’re the underdogs now. But we will play with all of our heart and we will do our best. I’m still confident with the team we have. I trust the guys we have here.”
While the frontcourt cupboard has been laid bare, the Cobras remain a formidable force in the backcourt with Jun Luz and the league’s reigning two-time MVP, Mark Jayven Tallo, who expressed his excitement for the daunting task that lay ahead.
“Well everybody should step up including myself. Consistency is very important in every game,” said the former La Salle Green Archer.