UV—MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL

Known to be a basketball powerhouse, UV now shifts focus to other sports as Samsam Gullas looks to solidify its sports program

The University of the Visayas has always been synonymous to basketball. But basketball powerhouse University of Visayas (UV) Green Lancers to be more active to the rest of the sporting events other than basketball.

This, after the many-time basketball champion in the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation (Cesafi) has committed to focus on all its sports program and not solely on basketball.

“From now on, we will give a close attention to our whole sports program. Before it was only concentrated on basketball,” said sportsman and First District Representative Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu yesterday.

Gullas said that currently the school has varsity programs for basketball, tennis, boxing, swimming, football, volleyball, chess, scrabble and gymnastics.

“Yes we will be more active, and more delegates bringing the name of the school,” said Gullas asked on the school’s participation at the multi-sporting meets like the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa), Milo Little Olympics, Palarong Pambansa, among others.

To start the new chapter of the sports program, UV will make a dormitory that can house all their athletes.

“The construction will start within the month and is expected to finish on May or June before the start of the new school year,” he said Gullas also plans to make the athletes’ training more scientific and he sees the creation of a gym as the answer.

“I want a gym that can help us with our scientific training with (advance) equipment. I will bring it up to the (school) administration,” said Gullas.

UV recently made history in the Cebu Youth Basketball League ( CYBL), going four-for-four— winning the Under-19, U15, U12 and U10 titles.

“I talked to CYBL organizer Rico Navarro and he told me that in the past 10 years, there was no team that went four-for-four. I’m very happy with the very good result of our team,” he said.

“This is the testament on the dedication of the coaches, the staff and parents. We at the admin are only here to support,” added Gullas.

SUNSTAR FILE SUCCESS. The University of the Visayas looks to duplicate its successful basketball program and apply it in other sports that the school is backing. UV looks to send more athletes to different multi-sporting conclaves in the country.