The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers and Lady Blazers are the
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
senior varsity teams of
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
The De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (; ), also known as DLS-CSB or Benilde, is a private, Catholic secondary and tertiary education institution established by the De La Salle Brothers, located in the Malate district of Manila, Philippin ...
.
The Blazers were formerly a member of the
National Capital Region Athletic Association
The National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) is an athletic association in Metro Manila (National Capital Region), Philippines established in 1993. It is primarily held during the second semester of a school around November until Febr ...
(NCRAA) before being admitted to the NCAA in 1998. They then went on to win their first NCAA seniors basketball title in
2000
2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year.
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
, the fastest for an expansion squad.
The college's male juniors team are referred to as the Benilde–LSGH Junior Blazers (officially the
Benilde–LSGH Greenies) of
La Salle Green Hills
La Salle Green Hills ("LSGH") is a private Catholic school run by the Philippine District of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was established in 1959 by the D ...
.
Almost all sports programs of the Blazers excel in their events, leading to the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde winning its first ever General Championship in
NCAA Season 81
NCAA Season 81 was the 2005–06 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines). Colegio de San Juan de Letran was the season's host.
To usher in the new season, Letran and the other NCAA member schools performed the open ...
, and again in
NCAA Season 83 NCAA Season 83 is the 2007–08 Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines).
José Rizal University is the host of the 2007–2008 season, with this year's theme " Soaring High and Free at 83". NCAA Season 82's commissione ...
,
NCAA Season 84
NCAA Season 84 is the 2008–09 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Mapua Institute of Technology is the host of the 2008–2009 season, with the year's theme being "To The Fore at 84: Building Bridges T ...
,
NCAA Season 89
NCAA Season 89 is the 2013–14 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines). The season, hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde opened on June 22, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Basketball
Seniors' tournament ...
, and
NCAA Season 90
NCAA Season 90 was the 2014–15 collegiate athletic year of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. It was hosted by the Jose Rizal University and was opened on June 28, 2014, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
It was ...
.
Name
As homage to the school which introduced several pioneering degree programs in the country, the college adopted the BLAZERS as their moniker. It is a short term for ''Trailblazers'', which emphasizes the college's commitment to set a standard for innovative quality education as well as sports development.
With the La Salle Green Hills Greenies
When
De La Salle University
De La Salle University (), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools with main campus in Taft Avenue, Malate, Man ...
selected
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
The De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, also referred to by its acronym DLSZ or De La Salle Zobel ( Filipino: Paaralang De La Salle Santiago Zobel), is a private Catholic basic education institution for boys and girls run by the Philippine Di ...
as its junior affiliate team when it entered the
UAAP
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), established in 1938, is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines. The eight-member schools are Adamson University (AdU), Ateneo de Manila Univer ...
in 1986,
La Salle Green Hills
La Salle Green Hills ("LSGH") is a private Catholic school run by the Philippine District of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was established in 1959 by the D ...
was left without 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
De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) (''incorporated as De La Salle Philippines, Inc''), established in 2006, is a network of Lasallian educational institutions within the Lasallian East Asia District established to facilitate collaboration in the ...
, applied for admission to the NCAA through the efforts of the System President
Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, the Greenies were 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
The La Salle Green Hills Greenies is the varsity team representing La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. In the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA), they compete as De La Salle– ...
(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 Christian 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 Green Pepper Squad began to distribute clappers with 'La Salle' written on them. 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 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.
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
This short-lived rivalry was sparked when DLS-CSB, who only joined the league in 1998, met the
San Sebastian College–Recoletos (or simply Baste) in the finals of 2000 and 2002. CSB won the
2000 Finals, bannered by what is dubbed as the best CSB Blazers team ever assembled. With former NCAA MVP
Sunday Salvacion
Sunday Salvacion (born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He played the small forward and shooting guard positions. Salvacion played college basketball for the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) ...
,
Jondan Salvador
Jondan Y. Salvador (born October 12, 1980) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Purefoods Chunkee Giants in the 2005 PBA draft. He was a former Mythical Five awardee with the CSB Blazers during his NCAA ye ...
, and Al Magpayo, the Blazers beat the formidable
San Sebastian Stags
The San Sebastian Golden Stags and Lady Stags, also known collectively as the SSC-R Stags, are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) varsity teams of the San Sebastian College – Recoletos.
Their five consecutive NCAA senio ...
and won their first NCAA seniors basketball championship title, despite joining the league 2 seasons earlier. This marks the fastest win for any new school in the league since WWII.
However, the Stags avenged their defeat and defeated the Blazers in the
2002 Finals. 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 SSC-R's coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Leomar Najorda was adjudged as the 2002 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament Finals MVP.
NCAA General Champions
As of 2015, the CSB Blazers have earned five General Championships, winning three 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 NCAA Season 83 is the 2007–08 Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines).
José Rizal University is the host of the 2007–2008 season, with this year's theme " Soaring High and Free at 83". NCAA Season 82's commissione ...
(2007–08 season) and
NCAA Season 84
NCAA Season 84 is the 2008–09 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Mapua Institute of Technology is the host of the 2008–2009 season, with the year's theme being "To The Fore at 84: Building Bridges T ...
(2008–09 season). The Blazers won more Seniors General Championships in
NCAA Season 89
NCAA Season 89 is the 2013–14 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines). The season, hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde opened on June 22, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Basketball
Seniors' tournament ...
(2013–14 season) and
NCAA Season 90
NCAA Season 90 was the 2014–15 collegiate athletic year of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. It was hosted by the Jose Rizal University and was opened on June 28, 2014, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
It was ...
(2014-15 season).
Their junior counterparts, LSGH, won two General Championships as
De La Salle College and the other eight General Championship as LSGH. As the DLS–CSB juniors team, LSGH has won four General Championships.
NCAA Season 82 hosting
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde served hosting rights for the first time in the
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 on 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
NCAA Season 89
NCAA Season 89 is the 2013–14 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines). The season, hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde opened on June 22, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Basketball
Seniors' tournament ...
, and again in
NCAA Season 97.
Blazie, the official mascot of the 82nd NCAA season, was created by the DLS-CSB Multimedia Arts students 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
De La Salle University (), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools with main campus in Taft Avenue, Malate, Manil ...
,
LSGH and
DLSZ
The De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, also referred to by its acronym DLSZ or De La Salle Zobel ( Filipino: Paaralang De La Salle Santiago Zobel), is a private Catholic basic education institution for boys and girls run by the Philippine Di ...
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
Notable players
*
Sunday Salvacion
Sunday Salvacion (born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He played the small forward and shooting guard positions. Salvacion played college basketball for the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) ...
- 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
Jondan Y. Salvador (born October 12, 1980) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Purefoods Chunkee Giants in the 2005 PBA draft. He was a former Mythical Five awardee with the CSB Blazers during his NCAA ye ...
- 2001 NCAA Mythical Five Selection.
*
Oliver Agapito
Victor Oliver Agapito (born October 6, 1973) is a Filipino former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also briefly played in the Metropolitan Basketball Association
The Metropolitan Basketball Associa ...
- played with the
Red Bull Barako
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–750 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondary ...
and the
Sta. Lucia Realtors.
* Ernie Jay Sagad - 2004 NCAA Mythical Five Selection, 2005 NCAA Most Valuable Player.
* Lou Gatumbato - Played with
Air21 Express Air21 Express may refer to
* Barako Bull Energy, Philippine basketball team named as "Air21 Express" from 2005 to 2009, and from 2010 to 2011
* Air21 Express (2012–2014)
The Air21 Express was a professional basketball team in the Philippine B ...
and
Barako Bull Energy
The Barako Bull Energy were a Philippine Basketball Association that began in 2002 as the FedEx Express.
From its first season until 2005, the team was dubbed as the FedEx Express before changing to Air21 Express. From the 2009 PBA Fiesta C ...
.
* Ronald Capati - Played with
Coca-Cola Tigers
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...
and
Saigon Heat
The Saigon Heat is a Vietnamese professional basketball team based in Ho Chi Minh City. Since the 2014 season, the Heat's home games are played at the CIS Arena on the campus of the Canadian International School in District 7. This is the fi ...
.
* Estilitus Mendoza - 2000 NCAA Champion.
*
Carlo Lastimosa
Carlo Dan Lastimosa (born September 3, 1990) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Biñan Tatak Gel of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and PSL. He was drafted 20th overall by the Barako Bull in the 2013 PBA draf ...
- Played for the
Barako Bull Energy
The Barako Bull Energy were a Philippine Basketball Association that began in 2002 as the FedEx Express.
From its first season until 2005, the team was dubbed as the FedEx Express before changing to Air21 Express. From the 2009 PBA Fiesta C ...
,
Blackwater Elite
The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise started as one of the founding teams in the ...
,
NLEX Road Warriors
The NLEX Road Warriors is a professional basketball team owned by Manila North Tollways Corporation, NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since the 2014 ...
and
Columbian Dyip.
*
David Licauco
David Alexander Sy Licauco (: born June 15, 1994) is a Filipino actor, model, and businessman. He is known for portraying Malik for GMA television drama ''Mulawin vs. Ravena'' (2017), Fidel de los Reyes y Maglipol in '' Maria Clara at Ibarra' ...
- Played with CSB Blazers Team B.
*
Kiko Estrada
Jason Joseph Francis Carlos Diaz Ejercito (; born June 4, 1992), popularly known as Kiko Estrada, is a Filipino actor who is best known for his role in '' Tween Hearts'' on GMA Network before he transferred to ABS-CBN, where he appeared in '' ...
- Played with CSB Blazers Team B.
*
AJ Perez
Antonello Joseph Sarte Perez (; February 17, 1993 – April 17, 2011) was a Filipino actor. He was a member of ABS-CBN's Star Magic in Batch 13. He portrayed one of the lead characters in the 2009 miniseries '' Your Song Presents: Underage''. ...
- Played with CSB Blazers Team B.
*
Paolo Taha
Juan Paolo S. Taha (born December 5, 1990) is a Filipino basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 29th overall by the Kia Sorento in the 2014 PBA draft.
College career
Taha ...
- Current player for the
NorthPort Batang Pier
The NorthPort Batang Pier is a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team that first played in the 2012–13 PBA season. The team took over the franchise of the Powerade Tigers in 2012 after it was sold to Sultan 900 Capital, Inc. Besides Nor ...
.
*
Jonathan Grey
Jonathan Grey (born January 13, 1992) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Biñan Tatak Gel of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and Pilipinas Super League (PSL). He played for the Benilde Blazers of the NCAA when h ...
- Played for the
Meralco Bolts
The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team began in 2010 after the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) acquired the PBA franchise of the Sta. Lucia Realtors. The team is one of thre ...
and
GlobalPort/NorthPort Batang Pier.
*
Will Gozum - 2022 NCAA Most Valuable Player.
*
Miguel Corteza - Current player for the
Blackwater Bossing
The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise started as one of the founding teams in the ...
.
* Prince Carlos - Current analyst for the NCAA basketball tournament.
* JC Cullar - Current assistant coach for the Blazers.
*
Miguel Oczon - Current player for the Ulsan Hyundai.
Coaches
* Adriano "Bong" Go (1998–2000)
*
Dong Vergeire (2000–03)
*
Tonichi Yturri
Jose Antonio "Tonichi" Yturri (born January 5, 1963), is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and former collegiate coach.
Career
Playing career
Yturri suited for De La Salle Green Archers, and played for the Northern Cement-P ...
(2003–05)
*
Caloy Garcia
Carlos Jose "Caloy" Garcia is a Filipinos, Filipino professional basketball coach and former TV host. He is an assistant coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the De La Salle Green Archers ...
(2005–07)
*
Gee Abanilla
Gelacio "Gee" Abanilla is a Filipino basketball player, coach, and executive who currently serving as the Team Manager for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Playing career
He played for the DLSU Green Arch ...
(2008–09, on leave for the 2009 season and former head coach of the
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers and Lady Archers are the varsity teams representing De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among other leagues. The "Green Archer" is the traditional university mascot. Whi ...
during the
2012–13 season)
*
Richard del Rosario
Richard del Rosario (born August 25, 1970) is a Filipino former basketball player who is currently serving as an assistant coach for both the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Perpetual Altas baske ...
(2009–2013)
*
Gabby Velasco (2013–2016)
*
TY Tang
Tyrone Conrad Uy "TY" Tang (born September 25, 1984) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and a current head coach. He last played for Mighty Sports of the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League (PCBL). Tang played for the Rain ...
(2017–2021, former PBA player and member of the
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers and Lady Archers are the varsity teams representing De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among other leagues. The "Green Archer" is the traditional university mascot. Whi ...
team that won the championship in
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
)
*
Charles Tiu
Charles Alandy-Dy Tiu (born January 11, 1989) is a TV presenter and basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of Benilde Blazers and Strong Group Athletics. He is the brother of Chris Tiu.
Coaching career
His basketball career ...
(2021–present)
WNCAA Senior Division women's basketball
The 1997 line-up of the Lady Blazers basketball team holds the honor of giving College of Saint Benilde its very first championship in women's basketball by beating rival Lyceum College on October 12, 1997. The following year, they were crowned WNCAA's back-to-back champions.
Notable players
* Jean Cruz- 2016 Women's PBA 3x3, Played with Blackwater
Coaches
*Antonio "Tatang" Mendoza (1994–1996)
*Cholo Martin (1996-1997)
*Angelina "Piao" Fedilliaga (1998–2009)
Volleyball
References
{{NCAAPhilippines
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) teams
College sports teams in Metro Manila
Blazers