Team Dico owner hits out at NTBC Cebu organizers

Cebuano sports patron Reymar Englis Dico has vented out his grievance against what he perceives as “inconsiderate” organizers of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Cebu qualifying tournament.

Dico, a lawyer by profession who is a league organizer himself, could not contain his anger and disappointment when his team was forfeited in their scheduled semifinal clash with the City of Bogo in the Under 19 age group of the NBTC tilt last Saturday, February 3, at the Cebu City Sports Institute (CCSI) gym in Barangay Sawang Calero.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Dico narrated all the circumstances surrounding their forfeiture.

Dico said the original schedule in the crossover semis furnished to them by league commissioner Jonathan Saso in their group chat pits No.1 vs No.4 in the first game at 7:30 a.m. and No.2 vs No.3 in the second game at 9 a.m. But when the Final Four cast was determined by the technical committee on Friday night (February 2) that saw Team Dico as the second seed, the organizers made a last-minute change of schedule on the eve of the semis games, putting the No.2 vs No.3 match-up in the first game.

Dico said the eleventh hour move by the organizers has greatly affected them they had an earlier commitment with Cebu City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros for a basketball clinic in the the Sugbo Cup from 7 to 9 a.m., giving them just enough time for the second game had the organizers stuck to their original timetable.

“Ang inyong original schedule for the semifinals kay ang first game rank 1 vs rank 4. Unsa inyong rason ngano nag-usab mo sa schedule on the last minute? True organizers mo pero hatagan unta ninyo rason ngano nag-usab mo og schedule unless naa moy gipaboran ug team!” Dico blurted out in a Facebook post.

Still, Dico said they tried their best to make it to the 7:30 a.m. game but their players arrived at the CCSI gym at 7:50 a.m. and immediately thereafter was declared loser by forfeiture.

That blew Dico’s top especially that their coach was already at the venue, even pleading before the organizers for a little more time as their players are already coming.

Unfortunately, their request fell on deaf ears.

“To the organizers of the NBTC 19 Under Local Qualifier Cebu Province, walay sama ka sakit inyong gibuhat. As a team owner, wala moy respeto sa kahago sa mga players ug sa mga coaching staff,” Dico said.

“Kalayo sa Lapu-Lapu City human kasayo sa buntag human naa diay team na ma-forfeit sa semifinals? Ang akoa coach (Saga) naabot diha sa venue wala pay 7:30 a.m. pero wa gyud mo musugot na hatagan og another minutes na padung naman unta akoa mga players. Kalayo intawon sa Lapu-Lapu City human ang venue Sawang Calero gym.

Naa pakoy mga players na gagikan sa Mactan ug Pta. Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City. Bisan man lang gamay na kaluoy sa team wa ninyo gihatag? Grabe pagdaogdaog ninyo uy.”

“Okay ra inyo mi gi-ingani but saksi ang Ginoo sa inyong binuhatan! Hinaot na pang gabaan mo sa inyong mga dautang binuhatan labi na sa tawo na gibuhat ang tanan para ma-disqualify ang akoang team na wa man lang kaluoy sa kahago sa players,” Dico ranted further. “Hinaot matabangan mi ni Mayor Ahong Chan na ma-address amoang concern. We are representing LapuLapu City and hoping to bring LapuLapu City to the NBTC National Finals.”

Sought for his reaction,Saso said he respects the sentiments of Dico but did not make any further comments on the issue.