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 Benilde applied to join the NCAA as early as 1991; several student organizations opposed Benilde's entry to the NCAA.
They had participated in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) as early as 1994.
In March 1998, the NCAA announced the entry of Benilde, with a probationary period of three years.
Champions under probation 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 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 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 after the elimination round. The Blazers made it to the finals, but were defeated by the Cardinals.
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 2021–2026: Charles Tiu 2026–present: Paolo Layug
Season-by-season records SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPCTGBGPWLResults1999NCAA7th/81459.3574Did not qualify2000NCAA3rd/81495.6432440Won finals vs San Sebastian2001NCAA4th/81486.5713211Lost semifinals vs JRU2002NCAA2nd/814104.7141413Lost finals vs San Sebastian2003NCAA5th/81468.4293Did not qualify2004NCAA8th/814212.1438Did not qualify2005NCAA6th/81459.4298Did not qualify2006NCAA8th/814311.21410Did not qualify2007NCAA7th/712111.08310Did not qualify2008NCAA6th/814410.2867Did not qualify2009NCAA8th/1018612.33310Did not qualify2010NCAA7th/916511.31311Did not qualify2011NCAA8th/1018612.33310Did not qualify2012NCAA9th/1018513.27810Did not qualify2013NCAA9th/1018513.27810Did not qualify2014NCAA5th/1018117.6112Did not qualify2015NCAA8th/1018513.2788Did not qualify2016NCAA10th/1018117.05613Did not qualify2017NCAA8th/1018414.22214Did not qualify2018NCAA5th/1018108.5567Did not qualify2019NCAA5th/101899.5009Did not qualify2020NCAASeason canceled2021NCAA4th/10954.5564202Lost 4th seed playoff vs Perpetual2022NCAA1st/1018144.778—422Lost finals vs Letran2023NCAA4th/1018117.6114111Won 3rd place playoff vs Lyceum2024NCAA2nd/1018144.7781312Lost finals vs Mapua2025NCAA2nd/51394.692—624Lost 3rd place playoff vs Perpetual
Honors
Team honors National Collegiate Athletic Association: Champions (1): 2000
Player honors
NCAA Most Valuable Player Sunday Salvacion (1): 2002 Jay Sagad (1): 2005 Will Gozum (1): 2022 Allen Liwag (2): 2024,2025 NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player Mark Magsumbol (1): 2000 NCAA Rookie of the Year: Sunday Salvacion: 1999 Al Magpayo: 2000 Carlo Lastimosa: 2010 NCAA Defensive Player of the Year Allen Liwag (1): 2024
See also Strong Group Athletics Pilipinas Super League AsiaBasket
Notes
References