CESAFI TIES UP WITH VIVA SPORTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 27 Jul 2015
Narvasa.
The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation or CESAFI has tied up with Viva Sports in a major move to enhance the stature of the fiercely competitive collegiate league anchored in Cebu, through a regular coverage of the main game on each playing day to be telecast nationwide on prime time over IBC 13 the following day.
Viva Sports which covered the Philippine Basketball Association during its glory days will fall back on that experience to enhance the viewership of CESAFI games behind the compelling slogan of ?CESAFI ? home of the future stars of Philippine basketball.?
The link between CESAFI and Asia?s premier professional basketball league has been underscored in recent years with the emergence of such superstars as back-to-back winner of the Most Valuable Player award Junmar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, his emerging rival in the collegiate days, Greg Slaughter now of Ginebra San Miguel and veteran shooting star Dondon Hontiveros of Alaska.
Slaughter won titles for the University of Visayas in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and as UV romped away with nine straight titles from 2001 to 2009 when the team was coached by former PBA shooting stars Elmer ?Boy? Cabahug and Al Solis.
When Slaughter transferred to Ateneo de Manila in 2010, Fajardo took over in 2010 and 2011 although they never had a rivalry, strictly speaking because Slaughter transferred when Fajardo arrived but they did play against each other a few times when Fajardo was still learning the ropes.
A hard-working big man Fajardo quickly blossomed into a genuine ?Tower of Power? and displayed his tremendous skills in the PBA, winning back to back Most Valuable Player awards in dominating fashion.
The ties that link Cesafi and the PBA will be given added impetus by the fact that newly appointed PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremony on August 1 at the Cebu Coliseum while Fajardo will be honored with a special award.
Commissioner Narvasa will speak from the heart when he addresses the players and officials of Cesafi on Saturday. In a preview he gave us, Narvasa said "we should be thankful to our schools who provide us the platform to show our talents and educate and prepare us for life. They should appreciate this opportunity."
He said "when players agreed playing for a school it's a contract where schools provide players with scholarships and playing opportunities. In return athletes have to make sure they make the grade," both academically and on the playing court.
Narvasa said he wishes to highlight the "values such as discipline, commitment, working with others in achieving a single goal and self-motivation are what's needed to play in the PBA. These things you learn in school."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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