Controversial SWU, UC open Cesafi 2017 season

A much- awaited event of the year, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. ( Cesafi) unveils the 2017 Season with promises of exciting games ahead, at the Cebu Coliseum starting at 1 p. m.

But before the competition proper, spectators will be treated to the showcase of the member- schools' artistic side in the Grand Palabas. And this year, six schools turn back time and will do a major throwback in the “Dance of the Decade and Hits of the Decade” theme.

The University of Cebu (UC) will do the hits of the 20s, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) will dance the 40s, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) will do the 50s, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) will bring back the 60s, the University of the Visayas (UV) the 70s, and the University of San Carlos (USC), the 80s.

This will be followed by the selection of the Miss Cesafi High School and College, before the start of the first game of the season – the UC versus Southwestern University showdown in the basketball tournament.

There is much speculation about the meeting of the Webmasters and the Cobras.

It all boils down to the unexpected take- over of Yayoy Alcoseba as mentor of the Webmasters that caught its erstwhile coach Kern Sesante flat-footed last May.

On his first season, Alcoseba mentored the Cobras, who went on to fight for the Cesafi title in 2011. At that time, Junemar Fajardo-led UC prevailed in the best- of-five championship series. SWU then marched to the finals five times, winning the 2012 and 2014 titles before being denied a sixth appearance in the finals last year.

Alcoseba left SWU early this year. But shortly after, he found a place to coach in the least expected school, leaving his former lieutenant Mike Reyes to take over the reins at the Cobras' bench.

Reyes joined Alcoseba in 2012, after leading the USC Warriors to two championship appearance in 2006 and 2007, as his chief trainer and alternate tactician.

The partnership was pretty good as SWU scaled heights and lived up to expectations. But the partnership ended when SWU appointed Reyes as its athletic director in 2016 and the school parted ways with Alcoseba last January.

With Alcoseba joining the Webmasters, Reyes gets a chance to call the shots for the Cobras.

In the high school game, the Baby Webmasters have been retooled in a quest to win the title.

Coach Joevir Samonte recruited new players who would be vital to its titular campaign.