CESAFI celebrates debut, opens 18th season today

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) will roll down the red carpet for its 18th season today along with a promise of new era for Cebu’s premiere inter-school athletic league.

In keeping with the tradition, the CESAFI will open its brand new season with its centerpiece basketball event featuring a double-header between the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras and the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats at the Cebu Coliseum.

Before the hardcourt hostilities, an elaborate

opening rites will take place starting off with the tratitional parades of athletes at 1 pm.

The three-hour ceremony will be graced by the CESAFI top honchos led by their president Bernard Nicolas Villamor of CIT-U.

Aside from the selection of Miss CESAFI 2018 in both high school and college divisions, the other hightlight of the kick-off bash is the Grand Palabas that is being transfigured from being an inter-school showdown to a united front.

Instead of a myriad of dances by different schools, all of the school’s dance troupes will perform as one CESAFI family in a big production number that will surely be a sight to behold for the spectators.

Aside from a new president, the CESAFI also embraces a new member, a new division, a new social media approach, and a new guest team this year.

The University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu/Mandaue (UCLM) is the league’s new member, while the Sisters of Mary SchoolBoystown serves a guest team/member. UCLM will join seven sports events, while SMS-Boystown will take pert the inaugural season of the Under 12 basketball tournament and other individual contests.

Also, the CESAFI plans to air some of its basketball games via Facebook Live.

Just like like year, a total of seven teams will slug it out for supremacy in the seniors division and 10 in the juniors level.

Two-time defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers lead the cast in the collegiate play. Out to give them a run for their money are the SWU-Phinma, CIT-U, UC Webmasters, University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (UPSF) Panthers.

In the juniors battle, the UV Baby Lancers are primed and ready to defend their throne against a tough field of opposition that include the four-time champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles, the vastly-improved USPF Baby Panthers, and perennial contenders UC Junior Webmasters and USC Baby Warriors.

The rest of the high school entries are the SWU-Phinma, CIT-U Baby Wildkittens, Don Bosco Greywolves, and Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons.