The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars (USJ-R)–two squads who were expected to be shoo-ins for the Final Four in the upcoming season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi)–will have to go to battle with all-Filipino lineups after unforeseen circumstances derailed their plans to reinforce their respective squads with a foreign player.
According to USJ-R’s respected and veteran head coach Jun Noel, their Congolese player Quintin Nzuzi left the squad after their stint in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup last summer.
“Medyo naganahan na man gud to siya ug panalay so wala na kaayu siya sulod-sulod sa iyang mga klase,” shared Noel of their 6-foot-11 center who anchored their defense in the shaded lane last season.
But now with Nzuzi gone, the onus will now be on prized forward, Mythical Five member Kevin Villafranca, to plug the gap along with young big men Edmundo Bayhonan and Nelvin Navarra.
However, the loss that hurt Noel the most was the disqualification of promising wingman Iron Suano, who showed tremendous improvement from his rookie season which he put on display during the summer leagues.
Suano, a native of Tagum City, is expected to be declared ineligible as he is already seven years removed from his high school graduation.
“Dira ko na-frustrate ug maayo. Kanang pagka-disqualify ni (Iron) Suano. He has really improved since last year and he would have helped us a lot this season,” added Noel.
On the other hand, the Cobras find their road to a third title in four years filled with potholes with the absence of their supposed reinforcement, Mupungu Boko and the solid frontcourt combo of Daryl Goloran, Rey Acuno and Bernie Bregondo due to academic issues.
The quartet have ceilings of 6-feet-5 and above, which now leaves SWU head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba with a gaping hole in the middle.
Still, the fiery mentor remains up to the challenge.
“We will just have to take it one game at a time. The challenge is there for me and the rest of the team,” said Alcoseba, who, in his four years with SWU, has never fielded a squad without a foreign player.
Sources from the squad said that they are now working on playing with a “small-ball” lineup that features the 6-foot-3 Melvin Holper in the middle, Filipino-Samoan Juju Bautista at the power forward slot, veteran gunner Janjan Auditor at the three position along with a backcourt of Jun Luz and two-time reigning MVP Macmac Tallo.