3 out, 3 in for Gov. Cup caging

Three teams backed out from participation in the 1st Cebu Governor’s Cup 21-&-Under Basketball tournament, which is slated to start on April 9 at the Cebu Coliseum.

But it is covered up easily as three teams are also coming in to fill the void.

CPSC executive director Ramil Abing revealed that the municipalities of Tabogon and Catmon and Toledo City backed out. They signed up nine days ago and prior to the deadline of submission of all the papers and documents yesterday.

However, last Wednesday, Abing got a call from Mandaue City, Barili and Santander that they are coming up with a line-up and will submit the requirements at deadline.

“We can’t just turn them down because they are also part of Cebu Province. At first we did not consider Mandaue City because of the strength of their players. But Talisay, Danao, Bogo Consolacion, San Fernando, Argao, Tuburan and Balamban can also field strong teams, so we might as well accept Mandaue’s entry. The case of Santander will provide the second district a more exciting competition. We can’t turn down Barili just because the mayor is not an ally. This is sports and everybody is welcome, there is no political color here,” Abing explained.

The final groupings now are Talisay City, City of Naga, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao and Dalaguete for South 1; Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan, and Ginatilan for South 2; and Alegria, Badian, Alcantara, Dumanjug and Barili for South 3.

Up north are Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Mandaue City, Pilar and Tudela for North 1; Carmen, Sogod, Borbon, Tuburan, Asturias, Balamban and Danao City for North 2 and San Remegio, Medellin, Bogo City, Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos for North 3.

Meanwhile, Abing announced that they hired the services of event organizer Junjit Primor to take care of the opening program, which will be graced by Gov. Junjun Davide and the mayors, lead by the League of Mayors of the Philippines Cebu president Mayor Aljun Diamante of Tuburan.