Benilde Blazers

The College of Saint Benilde Blazers are the NCAA senior varsity team of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.

College of Saint Benilde Blazers

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
League	NCAA and WNCAA
Joined	1998
Location	DLS–CSB - 2544 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila (Srs.) LSGH - 343 Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, Mandaluyong City (Jrs.)
Team colors	Green, White, and Black
Women's team	Lady Blazers
Juniors' team	La Salle Greenies
Seniors' general championships
NCAA: 5 (2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2014-15) WNCAA: unknown
Juniors' general championships
NCAA: 4 (2003–04, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09) -with DLS–CSB WNCAA: unknown

The Blazers were formerly a member National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) before they applied and were admitted to the NCAA in 1998. They then went on to win their first NCAA seniors basketball title in 2000 was the fastest for an expansion squad.

The other senior varsity teams may also be referred to as the Blazers. The juniors team are the CSB–LSGH Junior Blazers (officially the CSB–LSGH Greenies) of La Salle Green Hills, while the women's teams (volleyball and taekwondo) are the St. Benilde Lady Blazers.

Almost all sports program of the Blazers excel in their events, leading to the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde winning its first General Championship honors in NCAA Season 81, and again in NCAA Season 83, NCAA Season 84, NCAA Season 89, and NCAA Season 90.

Name

As homage to the school which introduced several pioneering courses in the country, the college adopted the blazer as their moniker. It is a short term for trail blazers, which emphasizes the college's commitment to set a standard for education as well as sports development.[1]

With the La Salle Green Hills Greenies

The Junior Blazers are the junior counterparts of the DLS-CSB Blazers

When De La Salle University selected De La Salle Santiago Zobel School as its junior affiliate team when it entered the UAAP in 1986, La Salle Green Hills was left without a membership in either the UAAP or the NCAA, thus starting a 17-year drought in a major collegiate league since its formal withdrawal from the NCAA in 1981.

De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, a member school of the De La Salle University System, applied for admission to the NCAA through the efforts of then System President Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, the Greenies was selected as the junior team by then LSGH President Br. Bernard Oca FSC. Both De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and La Salle Green Hills were admitted to the NCAA in 1998.

The La Salle Greenies (officially the CSB–LSGH Junior Blazers in the NCAA) is the junior affiliate team of the St. Benilde Blazers. Since DLS–CSB is not directly connected with its high school affiliate, except that they are both administered by the Lasallian Brothers, LSGH labels "St. Benilde" instead of "La Salle" on their jerseys.

The Blazers' senior varsity uniforms added the initials 'LSGH' in their uniforms, starting with Season 89, and during games, the CSB Pep Squad began to distribute clappers with 'La Salle' written on it. These were done to further connect both schools and their Lasallian roots.

In addition, beginning with Season 86, the Blazers replaced black with green as their primary uniform color, in time for the centennial anniversary of Lasallian education in the Philippines. Black remains as an accent color.

With De La Salle Zobel in WNCAA

In contrast to their men's junior counterparts, DLSZ represents College of St. Benilde in the WNCAA since the NCAA didn't have women's basketball in their scheme.[2]

The De La Salle Lady Junior Archers have been the WNCAA Junior Division Champions for eight straight years, from 1993 to 2000 and again in 2004.

Saint Benilde - San Sebastian Rivalry

School colors of CSB and SSC-R.

This short lived rivalry sparked when DLS-CSB, who joined only in 1998, met San Sebastian College–Recoletos (or simply Baste) in the finals of 2000, and 2002. CSB won in the Finals of 2000, bannered by what is dubbed as the best CSB Blazers team ever assembled. With former NCAA MVP Sunday Salvacion, Jondan Salvador, and Al Magpayo, the Blazers beat the formidable San Sebastian Stags and won their first NCAA seniors basketball championship title, despite joining the league a season earlier. This marks the fastest win for any new school in the league since the World War.

However, the Stags avenged their defeat and defeated the Blazers in the Finals of 2002. The Golden Stags, led by graduating players Christian Coronel, Nurjanjam Alfad, Paul Reguerra, Roy Falcasantos, and Bernardo Mercado, swept the Blazers, 2–0. Mercado later joined the SSC-R's coaching staff as an assistant coach. Leomar Najorda was adjudged as the 2002 NCAA Finals MVP.

NCAA General Champions

As of 2015, the CSB Blazers earned five (5) General Championships, winning three (3) of these in a span of four years, being runners-up to PCU in the 2006–07 season. They won double championships with LSGH in NCAA Season 83 (2007–08 season) and NCAA Season 84 (2008–09 season). The Blazers won more Seniors General Championship in NCAA Season 89 (2013–14 season) and NCAA Season 90 (2014-15 season).

Their junior counterparts, LSGH, won two (2) General Championships as De La Salle College and the other eight (8) General Championship as LSGH. As the DLS–CSB juniors team, LSGH won four (4) General Championships.

NCAA Season 82 Hosting

De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde served hosting rights for the first time in 2006–2007 season of the NCAA, with the theme "Proud and True at 82: Blazing Beyond Limits." Under the leadership of the Sports and Development Office (SDO), the Benildean community flocked to fill the Araneta Coliseum at opening day. The number of Benildeans in the arena was only rivaled by that of the NCAA 2000 finals, as the Dome was rocked by chants of "Animo Benilde!".

The College again hosted the NCAA after one rotation, in Season 89 (2013).

Blazie, the official mascot of the 82nd NCAA season, was created by DLS-CSB Multimedia Arts Student and Marketing Communications Office (MCO) student staff Charmaine Collen Hao.

CSB pep squad and NCAA cheerleading competition

The De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde's pep squad has been officially known as the CSB Green Peppers (from 2005) and then later on as the CSB Pep Squad (since 2007).

Since the inception of the event, the CSB Pep Squad has always placed last (7th) from 2004 and 2005, were suspended by the school in 2006, 6th in 2007, and then placed their highest rank ever as second runner-up in 2008.

Select members of the CSB pep squad, along with the DLSU, LSGH and DLSZ pep squads, performed together at halftime of Game 1 of the La Salle-Ateneo UAAP Finals on September 18, 2008, in commemoration of Saint Benilde's 20th anniversary, De La Salle Zobel's 30th anniversary, and the incoming 100th anniversary of the De La Salle schools in the Philippines in 2011.

Basketball

Benilde Blazers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School Belgica, Kendrix – – – Carlos, Prince – – – Dixon, Edward – – – Domingo, J. J. – – – Flores, Chris – – – Gutang, Justin – – – Lepalam, Ladis – – – Leutcheu, Clement – – – Lim, Carlo – – – Trinidad, Marvin monggo – – – Naboa, Unique – – – Nayve, Robi – – – Sangco, Mark – – – Velasco, Luis – – – Young, Carlo – – –	Head coach TY Tang Assistant coach(es) Charles Tiu Carlo Tan Paolo Layug Ali Peek Gergel Razon, PTRP, DMS Mark Vincent Dubouzet Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Notable players

• Sunday Salvacion - 1999 NCAA Rookie of the Year, 2002 NCAA Mythical Five Selection and Most Valuable Player
• Alejandro Magpayo - 2000 NCAA Rookie of the Year, 2003 NCAA Mythical Five Selection and Defensive Player of the Year
• Mark Magsumbol - 2000 NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player
• Jondan Salvador - 2001 NCAA Mythical Five Selection
• Ernie Jay Sagad - 2004 NCAA Mythical Five Selection, 2005 NCAA Most Valuable Player
• Lou Gatumbato- Played with Air21 Express and Barako Bull Energy
• Ron Capati- Played with Coca-Cola Tigers and Saigon Heat
• Estilitus Mendoza - 2000 NCAA Champion
• Carlo Lastimosa - current NLEX Road Warriors player.

Coaches

• Bong Go (1998–2000)
• Dong Vergeire (2000–03)
• Tonichi Yturri (2003–05)
• Caloy Garcia (2005–07)
• Gee Abanilla (2008–09, on leave for the 2009 season & former head coach of the De La Salle Green Archers during the 2012–13 season)
• Richard del Rosario (2009–2013)
• Gabby Velasco (2013–2016)
• Tyrone Tang (2017–present, former PBA player & part of the De La Salle Green Archers team that won the championship in 2007)

Volleyball

On January 28, 2016, the CSB Lady Blazers women's volleyball team claimed their first NCAA women's volleyball championship since they joined the league in 1998 after beating the thrice-to-beat San Sebastian Lady Stags in 4th sets on the do-or-die Game 4 of the Season 91 finals series.[3]

NCAA Season 91 women's volleyball champions
Jannine Navarro, Djanel Welch Cheng (c), Rachel Anne Austrero, Diane Ventura, Chelsea Anne Umali, Jeanette Panaga, Melanie Torres, Jane Frances Borrero, Chelsea Chloe Santillan, Christine Danielle Lim, Ellaine Monica Dolorito, Bianca Gabrielle Lizares, Jan Arianne Daguil, Ranya Musa Head Coach: Michael "Macky" Cariño

Women's volleyball roster

NCAA Season 95 [4]

Benilde Lady Blazers
No.	Name	Position
1	LAI, Jewel Hannah (c)	Setter
2	PABLO, Maritess C.	Opposite Spiker
3	GAMIT, Michelle	Middle Blocker
4	VENTURA, Diane J.	Middle Blocker
5	UMALI, Chelsea Anne I.	Middle Blocker
6	SULIT, Janella M.	Libero
7	MIRANDA, Kaila Gabrielle
8	MONDONEDO, Cloanne
9	PASCUAL, Gayle	Outside Spiker
10	GO, Micah	Middle Blocker
13	GENTAPA, Grace	Outside Spiker
14	TUMANG, Jeanelle	Outside Spiker
15	ABRIAM, Klarisa	Outside Spiker
16	DAGUIL, Jan Arianne	Libero

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Jerry Yee[5]
• Assistant coach:Jose Roque[6]
• Former head coach: Michael "Macky" Cariño[7]

Men's volleyball roster

NCAA Season 93 [4]

Benilde Blazers
No.	Last Name	First Name	Position
1	Arda (c)	Isaah O'Neal S.	Outside Spiker
2	Bacani	Owen O.
3	Basilan	Francis Leo G.
4	Baustista	Anthony DV.
5	Daming	Matthiew Ryan M.
6	De Sequera	Joshua Raphael B.
7	Dy	Ajian Paul C.	Libero
8	Garcia	Russel C.	Libero
9	Magsino	Kevin G.	Setter
10	Martinez	Jordan P.
11	Orian	Mark Jethro	Middle Blocker
12	Rojas	Rodd Tyron B.	Setter
13	Saldavia	Sean Anthony
14	San Miguel	Jerico C.
15	Montano	Josh-Renan A.	Reserve

• Head Coach: Arnold Laniog

Junior's volleyball roster

NCAA Season 91

#	Name
1	Carlos delos Reyes
2	Gerald Zoilo Pangilinan
3	Andre De Asa
4	John Patrick Vande Vusse
5	Matthew Lawrence Tan
6	Angelo Porciuncula
7	Lance Martin Anupol
8	Raymund Marc Cadevida
9	Luis Paragas
10	George Manikis
11	Mark Robles
12	Vit Panaguiton
13	Reginald Alfred Magcase
14	Dee Daniel Malacad

Beach volleyball

NCAA Season 93

Men's

• Jan Arianne Daguil
• Melanie G. Torres
• Maritess C. Pablo

Men's

• Issah O'Neal S. Arda
• Ruvince O. Abrot
• Owen O. Bacani

Juniors

• Raymund Marc Cadevida
• Carlos Xavier Delos Reyes
• Vittorio Panaguiton, Jr.

Notable players

Women's

• Jeanette Panaga – NCAA Season 91 Finals' MVP and Best Outside Hitter.
• Melanie Torres – NCAA Season 91 Best Receiver.
• Klarissa Abriam – 2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Best Opposite Spiker[8]
• Arianne Daguil – 2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Best Libero[8]

Men's

• Ajian Dy – NCAA Season 91 Best Setter
• John Vic De Guzman – NCAA Season 92 Season MVP and Best Opposite Spiker.
• Isaiah O'Neal Arda – NCAA Season 92 Finals' MVP. 2017 PVL Open 2nd Best Outside Spiker (w/ Sta. Elena).
• Kevin Magsino – NCAA Season 94 Best Setter[9]
• Francis Basilan – NCAA Season 94 2nd Best Middle Blocker[9]
• Ruvince Abrot – NCAA Season 94 Rookie of the Year[9]

References

1. The League of Extraordinary Players Archived 2007-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, The LANCE Archived 2005-04-03 at the Wayback Machine June 2005
2. Daily Bulletin Online dailybulletin.zobel.dlsu.edu.ph Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Accessed August 8, 2006
3. Lozada, Mei-Lin (January 28, 2016). "St. Benilde Lady Blazers topple thrice-to-beat San Sebastian to claim first NCAA women's volleyball title". Spin.ph. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
4. Escarlote, Mark (December 27, 2017). "LOOK: NCAA Season 93 team rosters". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
5. Escarlote, Mark (September 15, 2019). "2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference Match #29". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
6. Escarlote, Mark (January 5, 2018). "#NCAASeason93 volleyball (W): CSB def. Letran". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
7. Escarlote, Mark (October 23, 2017). "Carino resigns as Lady Blazers coach". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
8. Escarlote, Mark (October 12, 2019). "PVL: Genesis named conference MVP". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
9. "NCAA: Perpetual Help's Almodiel repeats as men's volleyball MVP". ABS-CBN News. February 5, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.