Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.

Collegiate athletic association in Cebu province, Philippines

Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.Upcoming season or competition:
CESAFI Season 25

Sport| List of sports events
Founded| 2001
President| Atty. Augusto W. Go
Commissioner| Felix Tiukinhoy, Jr.
No. of teams| 17
Country| Philippines
Related
competitions| Philippine Collegiate Champions League

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) is a sports and academic association of 17 schools, colleges and universities in Cebu, Philippines. The CESAFI was established in 2001.[1]

## History

[edit]

Before the creation of the CESAFI, there was already a collegiate league in Cebu, named the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA), also formerly known as Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The league was created sometime in the 1930s and was the country's second college sports league, only preceded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) which was created in 1924, and way before the creation of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in 1938. CAAA was regarded as clearly the best college sports league outside Metro Manila and one of the three major college leagues together with the UAAP and the NCAA, both of which are based in Manila. The CAAA has had a rich history from the 1930s until it dissolved in 2000, producing top Filipino basketball players such as Ramon Fernandez of USC, regarded as the greatest Filipino basketball player during the golden years of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in the 1970s and 1980s, alongside two-time PBA MVP Abet Guidaben, Jojo Lastimosa, Zaldy Realubit, Bernie Fabiosa, and Dondon Ampalayo of University of San Jose–Recoletos (USJ-R). Other collegiate greats who became PBA legends include PBA star Dondon Hontiveros and Biboy Ravanes of the University of Cebu (UC), and Boy Cabahug, Al Solis and superstar Manny Paner of the University of the Visayas (UV).

CAAA took an unexpected turn going into the new millennium. In 1999, league commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, Jr. barred a player of Salazar Institute of Technology (now Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology) on the basis of the said player's eligibility. The following year, 2000, saw another controversy in the high school basketball division. The University of San Carlos, Salazar Institute of Technology, and Don Bosco Technology Center were all tied at second place, with identical 3–2 win loss records, with the second-placed team set to face the University of the Visayas in the finals of the high school basketball division. However, confusions surrounding the quotient system to break the tie between the three teams cost Salazar the second place and, subsequently, a spot in the finals.[2] These events caused the school to file a case against Tiukinhoy and the CAAA. However, a couple of months after the ordeal, the CAAA ceased to exist, and in place came in a new league, named as the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. or CESAFI. The CESAFI was basically the same league but with a different name with the same teams except for Salazar, which was denied entry for the new league. The Southwestern University, who were the champions of the last season of the CAAA in 2000, despite being included in the CESAFI, decided against fielding a team in the new league. However, on 2007, SWU eventually returned to compete in the CESAFI.

In the league's first 9 years, the University of the Visayas was considered to be the league's powerhouse, winning the basketball tournament for 9 consecutive years and was a contender for basically all the sports of the league. However, this changed in the league's 10th season, after the University of Cebu, led by June Mar Fajardo, became the first team other than UV to win the basketball championship. In addition, the University of San Jose–Recoletos won the men's and women's volleyball championship, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation won the athletics championship. The University of Cebu also won the tennis tournament, a sport which UV has also dominated for a long time.

In 2013, a high school basketball player named Scott Aying, son of former PBA player Danny Aying, was ruled ineligible after failing to serve a two-year residency period after transferring from San Beda College to the University of San Carlos. Aying's parents sought legal action against CESAFI and the league's commissioner, Felix Tiukinhoy, Jr. Aying's parents argued that Tiukinhoy and other league officials “wrongfully interpreted the tournament's rules and "unjustly disqualified" our son".[3] The judge later allowed the younger Aying to play, stating that Aying did not violate the league's two-year residency rule.[4][5]

In 2015, Southwestern University was found to have fielded overaged basketball players in their high school team after it was discovered that nine of its players have submitted the tampered versions of their birth certificates. To avoid inflicting more damage to the school's name, SWU eventually pulled out all of its teams in the high school division and also considered to pull out all of its college teams but decided not to as the school is considered a perennial contender in the college division especially in the basketball championship.[6] The university had also issued an apology to the CESAFI about this incident.[7] However, SWU eventually returned to the high school division the following year.[8]

In the 2018–19 CESAFI season, University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus became the thirteenth member school to join the CESAFI tournament.[9]

The CESAFI was one of the many sports leagues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The pandemic forced the league to cancel its 2020 and 2021 seasons.[10]

In 2022, the University of the Philippines Cebu confirmed its participation in the CESAFI, becoming its 14th member school.[11][12] Also in the same year, CESAFI Esports League was also inaugurated. It is the first collegiate esports competition in the Philippines that is under the supervision of athletic directors from CESAFI member schools.[13]

## Member schools

[edit]

### College division

[edit]

There are a total of sixteen member schools in the college division.

Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Population | School colors

|
|
|
|
|
|

Benedicto College | Mandaue | 2000  | Private, Non-secterian  | Cheetahs  | \
  |
Cebu Eastern College | Cebu City | 1915  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Dragons | \
  |
Cebu Doctors' University | Mandaue | 1973  | Private, Non-sectarian  | White Stallions | ~10,000  |
Cebu Institute of Technology – University | Cebu City | 1946  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Wildcats | ~35,000  |
Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges | Bogo City | 1947  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Mustangs  | \
  |
Don Bosco Technical College | Cebu City | 1954  | Private (Salesian) | Greywolves | \
  |
Felipe R. Verallo Foundation College | Bogo City | 1988  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Blue Dragons  | \
  |
Southwestern University PHINMA | Cebu City | 1946  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Cobras | ~13,000  |
University of Cebu | Cebu City | 1964  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Webmasters | ~61,000  |
University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu & Mandaue Campus | Mandaue City | 1995  | Private, Non-sectarian  | UC–LM Webmasters |  |
University of San Carlos | Cebu City | 1595  | Private (Society of the Divine Word) | Warriors | ~27,000  |
University of San Jose–Recoletos | Cebu City | 1947  | Private (Augustinian Recollect) | Jaguars | ~14,000  |
University of Southern Philippines Foundation | Cebu City | 1927  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Panthers | ~18,000  |
University of the Philippines Cebu | Cebu City | 1918  | Public | Fighting Maroons | ~2,000  |
University of the Visayas | Cebu City | 1919  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Green Lancers | ~35,000  |
Velez College | Cebu City | 1966  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Velezians | ~35,000  |

### High school division

[edit]

There are thirteen member schools in the high school division. All ten schools in the college division have a team in the high school division. Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, as a K-12 school, is the only member without an affiliated team in the college division, while Velez College does not have a high school division affiliate.

Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Population | School Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|

Benedicto College | Mandaue | 2000  | Private, Non-secterian  | Baby Cheetahs  | \
  |
Cebu Doctors' University | Mandaue City | 1975  | Private, Non-sectarian  | White Stallions  | ~17,500  |
Cebu Eastern College | Cebu City | 1915  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Baby Dragons | \
  |
Cebu Institute of Technology – University | Cebu City | 1946  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Wildkittens | \
  |
Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges | Bogo City | 1947  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Baby Mustangs  | \
  |
Don Bosco Technology Center | Cebu City | 1954  | Private, Salesian | Baby Greywolves | \
  |
Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu | Mandaue City | 1955  | Private, Jesuits | Magis Eagles | \
  |
Southwestern University PHINMA | Cebu City | 1946  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Baby Cobras | \
  |
University of Cebu | Cebu City | 1964  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Junior Webmasters | \
  |
University of Cebu – Lapu-Lapu & Mandaue Campus | Mandaue City | 1995  | Private, Non-sectarian  | UCLM Junior Webmasters | \
  |
University of San Carlos – Basic Education Department | Cebu City | 1595  | Private, Society of the Divine Word | Baby Warriors | \
  |
University of San Jose–Recoletos | Cebu City | 1947  | Private, Augustinian Recollect | Baby Jaguars | \
  |
University of Southern Philippines Foundation | Cebu City | 1927  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Baby Panthers | \
  |
University of the Philippines High School Cebu | Cebu City | 1918  | Public  | Junior Fighting Maroons | NA  |
University of the Visayas | Cebu City | 1919  | Private, Non-sectarian  | Baby Lancers | \
  |

### Guest members

[edit]

Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Population | School colors

|
|
|
|
|
|

City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy | Bogo, Cebu | 2012  | Public  | Trailblazers  | NA  |
The Sisters of Mary School-Boystown | Minglanilla, Cebu | 1992  | Private, Sisters of Mary | Aloysians  | 2,200  |

## Events

[edit]

The CESAFI sets itself apart from other Philippine inter-school leagues as aside from its sporting events, it also holds academic and cultural events, which are contested and participated by all of its member schools.[14] As of 2018, CESAFI has 15 sporting events, and 14 academic and cultural events.[15]

### Sports

[edit]

The league, as of 2018, has ten schools competing in 15 different sports:

* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* Beach volleyball
* Chess
* Dancesport
* Football
* Futsal
* Karatedo
* Lawn tennis
* Swimming
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Volleyball
* Weightlifting

The league also plans to add golf, weightlifting[16] and bowling[17] in the far future. Unlike the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, CESAFI teams do not compete for an overall championship.

### Academic and cultural events

[edit]

As of the 2018 season, CESAFI has twelve schools competing in 14 academic and cultural events. These events consist of the following:[15]

* Bangga sa Balak
* Sangka sa Pakigpulung
* Current events & general information quiz
* Declamation
* Essay writing
* Hip-hop dancing
* Impromptu speaking
* Math quiz bee
* Oration
* Robotics
* Science quiz bee
* Sudoku
* Spelling bee
* Vocal duet
* Vocal solo

## CESAFI Basketball Championship

[edit]

CESAFI Basketball ChampionshipSport| Basketball

|

Founded| 2001
No. of teams| 24 teams (as of 2023):

* 13 - College division
* 11 - High school division

Most recent
champion(s)|

* College
UV Green Lancers
* High school
SHS-AdC Magis Eagles

Most titles|

* College
UV Green Lancers (15)
* High school
SHS-AdC Magis Eagles, UV Green Lancers (7)

CESAFI's basketball tournament is arguably its most popular event, and is considered one of the country's top collegiate basketball tournaments, along with the UAAP and NCAA's basketball tournaments. Below is the list of champions of the CESAFI Basketball Tournament.

### List of CESAFI basketball champions

[edit]

Academic
Year  | College  | High school

|
|

2001–02 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2002–03 |  University of the Visayas |  University of San Jose – Recoletos
2003–04 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2004–05 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2005–06 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2006–07 |  University of the Visayas |  University of Cebu
2007–08 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2008–09 |  University of the Visayas |  University of Cebu
2009–10 |  University of the Visayas |  Cebu Institute of Technology
2010–11 |  University of Cebu |  Cebu Eastern College
2011–12 |  University of Cebu |  University of the Visayas
2012–13 |  Southwestern University |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2013–14 |  University of the Visayas |

No champion awarded

2014–15 |  Southwestern University |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2015–16 |  University of San Carlos |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2016–17 |  University of the Visayas |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2017–18 |  University of the Visayas |  University of the Visayas
2018–19 |  University of the Visayas |  University of Cebu
2019–20 |  Southwestern University |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2020–21 |

Tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[18]

2022–23 |  University of the Visayas |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2023–24 |  University of the Visayas |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2024–25 |  University of the Visayas |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu

### Most Valuable Players

[edit]

#### Season

[edit]

Season  | College  | High school

|
|

College MVP  | School  | High school MVP  | School
2001 | Jerry Cavan |  Cebu Institute of Technology | Reed Juntilla |  University of the Visayas
2002 | Neil Rañeses |  University of the Visayas | Ranulfo John Malinao |  University of San Jose – Recoletos
2003 | JR Quiñahan |  University of the Visayas | Harold Cincoflores |  University of the Visayas
2004 | JR Quiñahan |  University of the Visayas | Eulogio Lasala, Jr. |  University of the Visayas
2005 | Mark Ababon |  University of the Visayas | Phil Mercader |  University of the Visayas
2006 | Enrico John Llanto |  University of San Carlos | Reynan Capoy † |  University of Cebu
2007 | Enrico John Llanto |  University of San Carlos | Junard Premacio |  University of the Visayas
2008 | Greg Slaughter |  University of the Visayas | Marty John Pearce |  University of Cebu
2009[cm 1]
| Greg Slaughter |  University of the Visayas | Mark Jayven Tallo |  Cebu Institute of Technology
June Mar Fajardo |  University of Cebu
2010 | June Mar Fajardo |  University of Cebu | Nikee Montalvo |  Cebu Eastern College
2011 | June Mar Fajardo |  University of Cebu | Paul Desiderio |  University of the Visayas
2012 | Wowie Escosio |  University of the Visayas | Dawn Hynric Ochea |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2013 | Mark Jayven Tallo |  Southwestern University | Justine Dacalos |  University of Cebu
2014 | Mark Jayven Tallo |  Southwestern University | Felixberto Jaboneta IV |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2015 | Shooster Olago |  University of San Carlos | Jed Cedrick Colonia |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2016 | Rey Anthony Suerte |  University of the Visayas | Jed Cedrick Colonia |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2017 | Jaybie Mantilla |  University of San Jose-Recoletos | Beirn Anthony Laurente |  University of the Visayas
2018 | Rey Anthony Suerte |  University of the Visayas | Jerick Jan Ranido |  University of Cebu
2019 | Shaquille Imperial |  Southwestern University | LA Casinillo |  Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
2020 |

None[cm 2]

Notes

1. ^ Fajardo and Slaughter shared the MVP award in 2009.
2. ^ Tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[18]

### Number of championships by school

[edit]

University/School | College | High school | Total | Last championship

|
|
|
|

University of the Visayas | 15 | 7 | 21 | 2023–24 College
University of Cebu | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2018–19 High school
Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2023–24 High school
Southwestern University PHINMA | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2019–20 College
University of San Carlos | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2015–16 College
Cebu Eastern College | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2010–11 High school
Cebu Institute of Technology – University | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2009–10 High school
University of San Jose – Recoletos | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2002–03 High school

## Media coverage

[edit]

Since its inception in 2001, replacing the old Cebu Amateur Athletic Association, CESAFI has received extensive coverage from the Cebu media and local and national newspapers like Sun.Star and The Philippine Star, but still lags behind in terms of its Manila-based counterparts UAAP and the NCAA in terms of publicity. Also, unlike the UAAP and NCAA, CESAFI had no national television partners. However, this changed as on its 15th season, the CESAFI went into nationwide TV coverage after signing an agreement with IBC 13 and Viva Sports. This agreement allowed the basketball, football and volleyball games to be televised on the channel.[19] For its 16th season, CESAFI and Viva Sports partnered with AksyonTV to broadcast the basketball games, which is aired every Monday to Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.[20] For its 19th season, the CESAFI is working with different student volunteers from the various member schools for the production coverage of the basketball games. The endeavour is called "CESAFI Live" and was hatched by long-time commissioner, Felix Tiukinhoy, Jr., who expressed his desire to create an environment where students are not just mere spectators. “We take CESAFI one step further this Season 19, not only by improving the environment for our student-athletes and other event contenders, but also by including more students not merely as spectators and fans, but as actual organizers and managers of various committees that make CESAFI a success,” said Tiukinhoy. All season long, the students would handling different elements of the production coverage such as camera handling, courtside reporting and annotating.

## See also

[edit]

* University Athletic Association of the Philippines
* National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
* United Central Luzon Athletic Association
* Philippine Collegiate Champions League

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. on Facebook

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Philstar.com: "...since the inception of the CESAFI in 2001."
2. ^ Limpag, Mike (September 22, 2013). "Limpag: Of lawsuits, the CAAA and Cesafi". SunStar. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
3. ^ Panerio, Jonas (September 19, 2013). "Legal battle plays out on centercourt as Cebu league hit by TRO over Aying eligibility". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
4. ^ Mayol, Ador Vincent; Napallacan, Jhunnex (October 2, 2013). "Judge issues order against Cesafi, says Scott Aying didn't violate league's rules". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
5. ^ Manto, Mylen P. (October 2, 2013). "Court rules athlete can play in CESAFI". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
6. ^ Manlosa, Rommel C. (July 29, 2015). "To save face, SWU pulls out high school squad". Sun.Star. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
7. ^ Villaruel, Emmanuel (July 31, 2015). "SWU says sorry to CESAFI". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
8. ^ "Baby Cobras try their luck again in Cesafi". SunStar. June 21, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
9. ^ "UCLM to join major event before Cesafi starts". Sun.Star. August 14, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
10. ^ Ochoa, Brian J.; Alison, Mars G. (May 1, 2020). "Cesafi cancels 2020 season due to COVID-19 threat". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
11. ^ Villaruel, Emmanuel B. (September 17, 2022). "UP Cebu moapil sa CESAFI sa labing unang higayon" [UP Cebu joins the CESAFI for the first time]. Banat News. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
12. ^ Rosal, Glendale G. (September 17, 2022). "UP Cebu launches its varsity program, gets ready for upcoming Cesafi". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
13. ^ Versales, Howard Humphrey (August 6, 2023). "Showcasing those who showcase". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
14. ^ Ballesteros, Jan (August 25, 2018). "New Cesafi season unfolds, SWU wins opening game". ESPN5. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
15. ^ a b Alison, Mars (November 3, 2018). "Cesafi academic and cultural events TO UNFURL NOV. 20". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
16. ^ Villaruel, Emmanuel (July 17, 2013). "CESAFI mulls adding golf and weightlifting this year". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
17. ^ Limpag, Mike (September 19, 2015). "Limpag: Will bowling meet Cesafi's conditions?". Sun.Star. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
18. ^ a b Ochoa, Brian J.; Alison, Mars G. (May 1, 2020). "Cesafi cancels 2020 season due to COVID-19 threat". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
19. ^ Alison, Mars (July 29, 2015). "CESAFI basketball to be televised nationwide for the first time". Rappler. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
20. ^ "CEBU'S FIERCELY COMPETITIVE COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE, CESAFI, TO BE TELECAST ON AKSYON TV". Philboxing. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.