The woes of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras keep on compounding after it was learned that prized forward Juju Bautista and guard JR Parker will not be playing in the next season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) because of academic issues.
After concluding a tough season which saw them compete with just a nine-man roster, placing fourth and missing out on a spot in the 2015 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), the Cobras must now face the reality of rebuilding a formidable lineup without their blue-chip recruit Bautista, who courageously manned the shaded area in the absence of legitimate big men and their heady guard who once helped lead the team to the 2014 title.
‘I’M COMING BACK’
“Basketball is only secondary here. They’re here to go to school and play basketball. Now if you don’t keep your grades up, they won’t be qualified to play basketball. The sooner the players realize that, the better,” boldly said SWU’s multi-titled head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.
Bautista, though, vowed to make amends and return to the team in time for the 2017 season.
“People make mistakes and I know I did and now I can’t play next season. But the reason why I’m coming back is to do it for my family and try to make it to the next level,” shared Bautista in an exclusive interview with Cebu Daily News.
A recruit from San Diego, the 6-foot-2 Fil-Samoan broke out in spite of playing out of position at the four spot. With his dreams of making it to the PBA and helping his family out, Bautista promised to do better with the chance he is being given.
“My family is motivating me. I’m also coming back because of my coaches like Coach Yayoy (Alcoseba) and Coach Mike (Reyes). They have been so good to me and I let them down. They are willing to give me another chance so I will do my best to fulfill what they desire,” Bautista added.
“It’s really a learning process and I’m glad I got another chance at it,” the soft-spoken cager shared.
With their roster in shambles, SWU athletic director Mike Reyes said that they are currently staging daily tryouts for new recruits starting at 10 a.m. at the Aznar Coliseum.
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