Season 91 finish: Eight place
Elimination round record: 5-13
Point differential: –5.3
Pomp and Circumstance: Jonathan Grey, JR Ongteco, Travis Jonson, Raphael Nayve, Ralph Deles, Ervin Flores
Premier Cup record: Eliminated (Elimination Round)
Recruits and Returnees: Clement Leutcheu, Yankie Haruna, Kendrix Belgica, Freddy Pajarillaga, Franz Pasamante, Eric Pili, Jose Lorenzo Mercado, Aurelio Norbete, Carl Suarez
Name |
Belgica, Kendrix M. |
Castor, Gerald D. |
Dixon, Edward Christopher D. |
Domingo, John Jose T. |
Doming, John Sergio T. |
Fajarito, Christian A. |
Haruna, Mustapha Yankie B. |
Leutcheu, Clement N. |
Pajarillaga, Freddy Jr. V. |
Pasamante, Franz Louie Jay DJ. |
Pili, Eric Joseph D. |
Saavedra, Jose Alfonso |
San Juan, Amando Emmanuel II I. |
Sta. Maria, Rene III P. |
Young, Carlo Michael L. |
Mercado, Jose Lorenzo A. |
Norbete, Aurelio Junior O. |
Suarez, Carl Simon A. |
Assessment
Clearly, the CSB Blazers were Jonathan Grey’s team last year. Now, with their star player gone, what kind of Benilde team shall we see in the upcoming season?
Looking over the team’s composition, it is bannered by the likes of the Domingo twins, newcomers Clement Leutcheu and Yankie Haruna, Gerald Castor, and Fonso Saavedra.
With Grey gone, Benilde must find ways to duplicate the production he provided last season. Moving the ball and playing tight defense will be the team’s key to keeping afloat over the rest of the league. They may not have a dynamite scorer this season, but they have a lot of athletic players who can make an impact on both ends of the floor.
Benilde are also no pushover, as their big men have shown plenty of potential heading into the season. They finally added size in the center position with the addition of Leutcheu and the returning Freddy Pajarillaga. Defensive ace Christian Fajarito is also poised to show major improvement this coming season.
However, the pressure on this team is the performance of their backcourt. The likes of Castor, the Domingo twins, Carlo Young and the rest must find ways to produce points in bunches to ease the burden on CSB’s frontcourt. Haruna must also make himself a pesky wing defender for Benilde to be able to hold their own against the NCAA’s elite scorers.
While they are a team in transition, expect this scrappy Benilde team to challenge a lot of opposing teams in the upcoming season.
Quotes: Gabby Velasco
“It’s Arellano. Impressive ang finish nila ng preseason, in the Fr. Martin as well as in the Filoil. Arellano is the best team here probably, the strongest contender.”
Prediction
2-16 (Last)