Yayoy resigns as Cobras coach but Alcoseba still under contract with SWU until next CESAFI season
CEBU, Philippines - In a sudden move that will surely send shockwaves to the local basketball community, Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba announced yesterday his resignation as head coach of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras.
"I would like to announce that I am stepping down from my post as head coach of the SWU Cobras," said Alcoseba in a telephone call to this writer yesterday morning.
Alcoseba's pronouncement completely caught SWU Athletic Director Ryan Aznar by surprise. "I really don't know about it. Coach Yayoy's resignation did not come from us. As far as SWU is concerned, he signed a three-year contract with us that will expire next CESAFI season yet. If he really wants to step down from his post, he should first make a formal request to us. That would be the most prudent thing to do."
Alcoseba did not elaborate on the reasons behind his decision except for saying that he just want to focus on his campaign for the May 13 elections.
A three-term councilor of Cebu City, Alcoseba is running under the banner of Liberal Party (LP) for Provincial Board (PB) member representing the first district of Cebu Province.
Alcoseba, who won numerous local and national tournaments while calling the shots for the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños in the commercial league, returned to the collegiate hoopdom with Southwestern U in 2011.
In his only second season, Alcoseba readily made an impact by steering the Cobras to 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball championship. It was SWU's first CESAFI crown that also ended its 13-year jinx in Cebu’s premiere school-based cage league.
Alcoseba also wrote history as the only collegiate coach to have collected a total of five titles with three different schools - the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in 1986 and 1987, the Cebu Doctors' College (now CDU) White Stallions in 1994 and 1999 and most recently the SWU Cobras.
When pressed for his comments, CESAFI commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. said he was surprised by Alcoseba's resignation.
"It's really a big loss to the league knowing Alcoseba's stature in Cebu basketball landscape," said Tiukinhoy. "But we can't do anything about it because it's a personal decision. I just wish him the best of luck with his candidacy. I hope he wins."