Tristan Albina on Cesafi ineligibility: ‘It’s heartbreaking’ 

Tristan Albina of UC lays it up in a Cesafi Partner’s Cup 2019 game. CDN Digital photo | Jonas Rey N. Panerio

Cebu City, Philippines—The title campaign of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in the 2019 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament just received a huge blow as prized acquisition Tristan Albina has been declared ineligible to play this season due to lack of units accumulated during his last academic year.

The 5-foot-10 sweet-shooting Albina shared that he managed to get just six units during the first semester of the school year 2017-2018, which he spent with the University of the Visayas (UV). 

Cesafi rules state that a student-athlete must pass 60 percent of a 15-unit load in order to be declared eligible for the season.

Albina’s ineligibility was confirmed by the Cesafi commissioner himself, Felix Tiukinhuy.

The news hit Albina hard as he was excited to compete in the Cesafi once again after his stint with the Green Lancers.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Albina. “I had an idea that there were going to be problems with my transfer but I pursued it because I wanted to use this stint as a stepping stone for something better like the MPBL.” 

Albina, though, said he has to accept the development.

“I can’t do anything about this. I really thought this would be my time but apparently not,” he said.

This development dampens UC’s outlook for the season, especially since Albina fills in the Webmasters’ need for outside shooting. The Dumaguete-native after all, is a two-time champion of the Cesafi Three-Point Shootout.

Albina said that he doesn’t know what he will be doing next and is still weighing his options.

“God has a purpose for everything,” Albina added. /bmjo