Printed September 18, 2023 10:03pm
Up to date September 18, 2023 10:04pm
Key losses: JC Cullar, Jimboy Pasturan
Key holdovers: Will Gozum, Robi Nayve, Miggy Corteza, Migs Oczon
Season 98 report: 14-4 (first runner-up)
De La Salle-School of Saint Benilde got here very near ending its 23-year title drought within the NCAA, arranging a finals duel final season with Colegio de San Juan de Letran the place the Season 98 crown was at stake.
In the long run, nevertheless, the Blazers remained because the heartbreak youngsters.
With an intact and reloaded roster, the Taft crew is hoping to write down a distinct story this time round.
Bannered by reigning MVP Will Gozum alongside gunners and backcourt leaders Migs Oczon and Robi Nayve and regular wingman Miggy Corteza, Benilde is tipped to placed on a present once more when the brand new season fires off this Sunday, September 24, on the Mall of Asia Enviornment.
Nayve, who will fill the void left by former staff captain JC Cullar, stated their earlier end was a testomony to the potential of the staff and harassed that regardless of the exit of Cullar and one other veteran in Jimboy Pasturan, they will nonetheless give groups a run for his or her cash.
“Sobrang laking feat na rin na naabot namin ‘yun. Each season, could aim kami and isa ‘yung pagiging half ng Closing 4 doon after which umabot kami sa finals,” Nayve stated.
“As much as the finals, nagawa naman namin pero we got here up quick lang sa dulo. Hopefully, this time magawa na talaga namin.”
(What now we have achieved was a really massive feat. Each season, now we have a aim and one in all it then was being within the Closing 4, and we reached the finals. We simply got here up quick in the long run. Hopefully, we will end it this time.)
For Nayve, they’ve sufficient expertise to compete within the upcoming season.
Apart from the core, additionally anticipated to supply the assistance for head coach Charles Tiu and the Blazers are holdovers Joshua Cajucom, Prince Carlos, Taine Davis, Chris Flores, Michael Mara, Macoy Marcos, and Mark Sangco.
Finishing the roster are new faces in Jesseray Arciaga, Zenric Jarque, Felipe Marasigan, and Paul Turco.
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(NCAA Season 98. Benilde Blazers vs San Beda Crimson Lions, Closing 4, November 29, 2022. Photograph: Angela Davocol)
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The Blazers had a busy preseason after becoming a member of prestigious tournaments just like the FilOil Preseason Cup and the AsiaBasket Worldwide Championship in Malaysia. Additionally they participated within the 2023 Bola.TV AsiaBasket Las Piñas Championship, the place they fell to the Ateneo de Manila College within the finals.
“Hindi namin in-expect ‘yung mga nangyari sa amin this preseason namin, medyo waft lang talaga kami. For instance ‘yung Filoil Preseason namin and ‘yung Filbasket namin, naglaro kami with out Will and medyo malaking adjustment ‘yun sa staff since malaking half si Will sa amin,” Nayve shared.
“Ngayon na bumalik na kami, medyo nagkakapaan pa kami ulit and hopefully this time, ‘yung preparation ay magbunga.”
(We didn’t count on our preseason, we simply went with the stream. Like in Filoil and Filbasket, we performed with out Will so it was an enormous adjustment since Will is an enormous a part of the staff. Now that we’re again, we’re nonetheless attempting to gel however hopefully, all these preparations will bear fruit.)
Watch the NCAA Season 99 video games reside on GTV beginning September 24.
—JKC, GMA Built-in Information
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