In a dramatic decision that has upended the Cesafi high school basketball playoffs, the league has forfeited five victories of the top-seeded University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu/Mandaue (UCLM), effectively ending their championship run.
Ruling and Immediate Fallout
The ruling was handed down by Cesafi Commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy after it was confirmed that UCLM player Noe Lingoste participated in another tournament in his hometown of Iloilo while the Cesafi season was ongoing. This is a direct violation of league rules, which strictly prohibit student-athletes from playing in other competitions.
The consequence was severe and immediate. UCLM, coached by Calib Gawangon, saw its stellar elimination round record of 8 wins and 2 losses slashed to a dismal 3-7. This catastrophic drop eliminated them from contention for the Top Four stage, which was scheduled to begin on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Appeal and Reshuffled Standings
Declaring the ruling "unfair," the UCLM camp has swiftly filed an appeal with the Cesafi board. Commissioner Tiukinhoy confirmed that the board would hold a Zoom meeting on Sunday, December 7, to address the appeal.
Meanwhile, the league standings have been completely reshuffled. The defending champion Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles (9–1) now claim the number one rank. The University of Cebu Baby Webmasters (8–2) move up to second place.
The new Top Four is rounded out by:
- Cebu Eastern College (7–3) in third place.
- Cebu Institute of Technology–University (CIT-U) (7–3) in the fourth and final playoff slot.
New Semifinal Matchups
With the new rankings set, the semifinal pairings are now official. Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu will face the CIT-U Junior Wildcats. In the other bracket, the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters will take on the Cebu Eastern College Dragons.
As the top two seeds, Ateneo and UC will enjoy the twice-to-beat advantage in their respective series, meaning their opponents must beat them twice to advance, while they need only one win.
The league's decision, grounded in its strict eligibility rules, has delivered a shocking twist to the season, leaving UCLM's fate in the hands of the board's appeal process and setting the stage for a dramatically altered championship chase.
