Record number of Cesafi players in UAAP this year

A record number of players from the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) will be showcasing their skills for six different squads when Season 78 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament kicks off on Sept. 5 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Of the 16 former Cesafi players who are set to play this season, six will be suiting up for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. They are former Southwestern University guard Monbert Arong, a key cog of the Cobras’ championship-winning squad in 2012; ex-University of Cebu Webmasters Roger Pogoy and Francis Tamsi, former University of the Visayas guard Ron Dennison and ex-Cebu Institute of Technology-University big man Barkley Ebona.

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons boast of four – former Cesafi juniors MVPs Paul Desiderio and Janjan Jaboneta, ex-RP Youth team guard Henry Asilum and former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu two guard Pio Longa.

The rebuilding Adamson Falcons have a trio of Cesafi alumni in yet another Cesafi juniors MVP Dawn Ochea; Arong’s former backcourt mate at SWU, Joseph Nalos and ex-UV wingman Gerald Fernandez.

With Dave Wilson Yu on the shelf, recovering from a knee injury, the reigning champions National University Bulldogs have been left with just one Cesafi alumnus, Adven Jess Diputado, formerly of Ateneo de Cebu.

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers has ex-Ateneo de Cebu big man Zach Huang while the University of the East Red Warriors have ex-University of San Carlos forward Shannon Gagate.

However, the most anticipated debut will be that of former University of Cebu guard Jerie Marlon Pingoy, who after serving a two-year residency as a result of his decision to transfer from FEU, will finally be playing for the Ateneo Blue Eagles alongside reigning league MVP, Kiefer Ravena.