THE CONTROVERSY that kept Cesafi powerhouse teams University of the Visayas and the University of San Carlos from playing in the Reinforced Partner's Cup was laid to rest yesterday.

Tournament organizer and Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy divulged that they will take care of all the medical expenses concurred by Bibbo Hotdog forward Jabe Delfino, as a result of his terrible fall in their game last Thursday.

The fall gave him a laceration at the back portion of his head, which took six stitches to close up.

The expenses will be taken out of the P100,000 injury fund of the tournament, which teams agreed to before the competition's tip-off.

Earlier, the seven-time Cesafi champions UV and the two-time runners-up, USC, expressed their hesitation to join the tournament after seeing their players get injured in the first Partner's Cup and not get sufficient financial help for the treatment of their injuries.

Tiukinhoy also added that the expenses of Troy Mercader of the R. Lapid's Chicharon-University of Southern Philippines Panthers, who injured his knee in Talisay last Sunday, has also been taken cared of.

As of yesterday, Delfino was still admitted at the Perpetual Succour Hospital under the care of Dr. Roel Dejano.

According to Dejano, who is the head of the Sports Rehabilitation Center, Delfino was conscious and oriented when he was taken into the hospital. He was admitted for observation to make sure that his neurological condition was stable. Correspondent Jonas Panerio