CESAFI drops bombshell decision, forfeits five won games of UCLM UC athletic director, coach Calib to file an appeal

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. dropped a bombshell decision, forfeiting the five won games of the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Baby Webmasters as penalty for violating the CESAFI rules when their point guard Noe Lingoste played in another tournament while the league’s Season 25 is still going on.

- EMMANUEL B. VILLARUEL Sports Editor

After verifying that Lingoste indeed saw action in the Gov. Toto Defensor Cup in Maasin, Iloilo last November 2, UCLM head coach Calib Gawangon acted swiftly and responsibly by removing Lingoste from the team since his participation constitutes a clear violation of Rule II.5 of the CESAFI General Ground Rules.

As stipulated in that particular rule, violations by the student-athlete of this provision will result in the forfeiture of all preceding games the team played where the athlete was fielded in.

Since the CESAFI didn’t issue a formal statement on the matter, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Athletic Department sent a letter to CESAFI commissioner Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy, Jr. to inquire about the official findings or corresponding sanctions with regards to Longiste's infraction while seeking clarification on the league's interpretation and application of the rules in this specific case.