Cesafi eyes rule amendments for Season 26 after UCLM forfeiture

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) is looking to amend portions of its ground rules and regulations ahead of Season 26 following last season’s controversial forfeiture involving the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Webmasters.

Cesafi Commissioner Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy said the league recently held a strategic planning session with athletic directors, tournament managers, and coaches from its member schools to review existing rules and address provisions that may have created loopholes.

One of the key topics discussed was the rule that led to the forfeiture of seven elimination-round victories by the UCLM Webmasters in the high school basketball tournament last season.

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“We just had our strategic planning two weeks ago. What is our direction for this season? We have revisited our ground rules and regulations. It’s in relation to what happened last season in the high school division. Every loophole that we experienced last season, we try to correct and amend our rules,” Tiukinhoy said.

“So, with it, we gathered all the athletic directors, tournament managers, and coaches. There were about 78 of us during the planning to get whatever suggestions and inputs, and to see to it that we can make the rules orderly.”

UCLM, which had secured the top seed entering the high school semifinals, saw seven of its elimination-round wins forfeited after one of its players, Noe Lingoste, was found to have participated in an unsanctioned tournament during the Halloween break in his hometown in Iloilo.

Although Lingoste had already been expelled by UCLM before the league released its decision, Cesafi ruled that he violated Rule 11.5, which prohibits athletes from joining outside tournaments while the Cesafi season is ongoing.

Under the existing rule, all games in which the ineligible player participated were forfeited, a decision that eliminated UCLM from Final Four contention.

The ruling sparked criticism from UCLM supporters, who argued that the provision unfairly penalized the entire team even after the player had already been removed from the roster. The school appealed the decision before the Cesafi board, but the protest was denied.

Tiukinhoy said any proposed amendments discussed during the planning session will still need the approval of the Cesafi board before they can be implemented for the upcoming season.

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He also welcomed the addition of the UCLM Webmasters to the men’s basketball tournament, where they will join their sister school, the University of Cebu Main Webmasters. Meanwhile, the San Roque de Cebu College (SRCC) Greyhounds will make their Cesafi debut in the high school division this season.

Tiukinhoy added that preparations for Season 26 are already underway, with the league targeting Aug. 29 for its opening program at the Cebu Coliseum.

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