Up and Coming Cebuano Athletes

Cebu has always been a great place to hone the best athletes in the Philippines. With the abundance of good competitions and well-funded schools and organizations, it is not remote that Cebuanos or Cebu-based athletes can gain international prominence. Cebu has been a hotbed of the best boxing, basketball, chess, football, golf, and martial arts prospects in the country. Many athletes from nearby provinces also make Cebu as their home.

This hub will feature the present and future superstars from the Queen City of the South, Cebu.

Cebu has always been a major source of the best local basketball players in the country. PBA legends like Mon Fernandez, Boy Cabahug, Dondon Ampalayo, Dondon Hontiveros, Jojo Lastimosa, and many more can trace their basketball roots to Cebu. Cebu has one of the most active college leagues in the Southern part of the Philippines. The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) has been the premier college league outside Manila. No wonder, many good players come out from this league. The high school and elementary leagues in Cebu are fast becoming recruiting gold mines for Manila schools and the national team.

Here are some of the best players from Cebu who will be making news in the hardcourt in the new future:

Gregory William Slaughter was making waves in the CESAFI for the dominant University of the Visayas dynast before being recruited by the Smart-Gilas and eventually the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. Slaughter was CESAFI MVP and he dominated the scoring and rebound while he was playing in Cebu. When he left, he left really big hole to fill that for the first time in CESAFI history, UV lost the Seniors Basketball Championship to the University of Cebu Webmasters.

Currently, Slaughter is leading the campaign of the ADMU Blue Eagles in the Season 74 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Slaughter leads his team in rebounds and blocks and he is one of undefeated Ateneo's leading scorers.

Henry Asilum is a guard from Ateneo de Cebu who is currently member of 2011 Energen Pilipinas Under 16 Team. He won a national championship for the Milo Passerelle in 2010 for the Ateneo de Cebu Magis.

Adven Jess Diputado is also a member of the Energen Pilipinas Under 16 Basketball that recently captured the first SEABA Under 16 Men's Title. Diputado was also a member of the Ateneo de Cebu 2010 Milo Passerelle National champion squad. He is now studying and will play for San Beda Red Cubs.

Junmar Fajardo is the presently the best big man outside Metro Manila. He has been dominating the local collegiate leagues and he is planning to go to higher levels of competitions after the 2011 College season ends. The behemoth from the University of Cebu Webmasters is the reigning CESAFI MVP.

Pingoy has been the top player for the Baby Tamaraws in Season 74 UAAP Junior's basketball. His skill is being compared to UAAP MVP RR Garcia. Pingoy is expected to banner the FEU Tamaraws Varsity squad in the next few years.

Cebu is one of the top boxing hotbeds in the world and these are some of the best prospects coming from this little island in the middle of the Philippines.

He is the son and namesake of former World Champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa. Dodie, Jr. is starting to carve his own name in the ring. He has already headlined some of the promotions of his Uncle Gerry.

Nicknamed Dugong Kampeon because of his bloodline, he currently has a record of 6 wins without a single loss. None of his fight has reached beyond the 4th round and all of his wins were via TKO or KO.

Division: lightwelterweight

Record: 22-0-1 13 KOs

This Mandaue City -born fighter is making waves in the USA and will probably have a crack for a wold championship as early as next year.