• Source: Benilde Blazers basketball

The Benilde Blazers basketball program represents De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) in men's basketball as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). The Benilde Blazers joined the NCAA in 1998, having been a fixture in the National Capital Region Athletic Association. The Blazers notably won its first and only NCAA title in 2000 under probation.




History






= Beginnings at NCRAA

=
CSB applied to join the NCAA as early as 1991; several student organizations opposed CSB's entry to the NCAA.
They had participated in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) as early as 1994.
On March 1998, the NCAA announced the entry of CSB, with a probationary period of three years.




= Champions under probation

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Two years later, they won the championship vs. the San Sebastian Stags, while under probation. The Blazers won just days after their brother team De La Salle Green Archers won the UAAP championship. The Blazers, under the leadership of players such as Mark Magsumbol and Sunday Salvacion developed a rivalry with the Stags, whom they met again the Finals two years later; this time, the Stags won. Dong Vergeire coached the Blazers during this time.




= Playoff drought

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After this run of qualifying to the playoffs, the Blazers have not made it to this stage of the tournament since. From 2005 until 2007, they were coached by former Benilde player Caloy Garcia; he led them to three consecutive losing seasons. Gee Abanilla and Richard del Rosario next coached the team for the next four years, with the team missing the playoffs on all instances, with Del Rosario resigning in 2012. With new coach Gabby Velasco, the Blazers avoided last place in 2013, then narrowly missed the playoffs in 2014. The next year, the Blazers endured a 17-game losing streak, only to win on their last game, finishing last. Velasco resigned and was replaced by TY Tang. Tang led the Blazers to fifth place finishes in his second and third year of coaching the team, but migrated to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, the Blazers appointed Charles Tiu to coach the team. In his first year in NCAA Season 97 would be closest they've gotten to make it to the playoffs where they finished fourth after the elimination round, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, each team met the other teams only once, and a play-in tournament was done in lieu of the second round. It was in the play-in tournament where the Blazers were eliminated.




= Consecutive playoff appearances

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Tiu still coached the team on the next season. The Blazers ended the elimination round at the #1 seed. The Blazers qualified to its first Finals appearance in 20 years, defeating the San Beda Red Lions in the semifinals. The Blazers lost in the Finals to the three-peat seeking Letran Knights, though. Will Gozum was named season MVP.
In NCAA Season 99, the Blazers finished 4th in the standings for their first consecutive stints in the Final Four since seasons 76 and 77 after posting an 11-7 record. They lost to the top seeded Mapúa Cardinals 78-67 but won the inaugural battle for third place game against the Lyceum Pirates 93-83. In the NCAA's centennial season, CSB finished second, and will face San Beda anew in the semifinals.




Current roster






Head coaches


1998–1999: Bong Go
2000–2003: Dong Vergeire
2004–2005: Tonichi Yturri
2005–2007: Caloy Garcia
2008: Gee Abanilla
2009–2012: Richard del Rosario
2013–2016: Gabby Velasco
2017–2021: TY Tang
2021–present: Charles Tiu




Season-by-season records






Honors


Championships:
NCAA (1): 2000




See also


Strong Group Athletics
Pilipinas Super League
AsiaBasket




Notes






References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Benilde Blazers basketball
• Benilde Blazers and Lady Blazers
• Miguel Corteza
• Will Gozum
• Charles Tiu
• NCAA Season 98 basketball tournaments
• De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
• Jonathan Grey
• David Licauco
• Blazer (disambiguation)