MEM
Oct 13, 2000, 10:14 AM
Source: http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News20001013167103.htm
Guts, big heart fanned Blazers’ epic victory
by :Joey Villar 10/13/00
Even the St. Benilde Blazers themselves couldn’t believe how fast they made a name in the NCAA but coach Dong Vergeire thought otherwise because he knew the team has what it takes to become champs — guts and heart.
"This is a sweet victory for us because we won the championship trophy despite the odds," said Vergeire minutes after the Blazers crowned themselves champions of the 76th NCAA basketball tournament Wednesday following a 74-61 victory over the San Sebastian Stags.
http://www.csb.dlsu.edu.ph/blazers/images/champions.jpg
"Everybody was putting us down, as if the team never existed. But we proved them wrong because we believed in ourselves and we put our hearts into it ," the youthful mentor added.
St. Benilde fans chanted "Animo Benilde, Animo Benilde," at the Rizal Coliseum as Vergeire and his boys celebrated their first crown after only three years in the league.
More than determination and a heart of a champion, St. Benilde obviously had the talent – two skilled players in every position — that became noticeable midway in the season when the Taft-based squad started winning.
After the Blazers saw their starting forward Bernardino Menor suffer a serious knee injury for their third straight setback at the start of the season, Vergeire and his charges picked up the pieces as they came away with nine wins in their next 11 outings to finish third behind elimination round topnotchers Jose Rizal and University of Perpetual Help-Rizal.
Written off anew against the Altas, who boasted of Philippine Basketball League veterans in their fold, the Blazers stunned the Las Pińas-based squad with two clutch triumphs to arrange a best-of-three series with the Stags, who stunned the Heavy Bombers in the other semis match.
Again, St. Benilde was the underdog against the much experienced SSC squad but Vergeire proved their critics wrong.
This time, it took a reliever in Mark Magsumbol, who was later named the Most Valuable Player of the series plus a squad of reliable mainstays to beat the Stags.
Magsumbol, a fourth year hotel and restaurant management student, took matters into his own hands as he dished out two heroic performances to power the over-achieving Blazers to victory.
All but two Blazers are eligible to play next season. With an almost intact line up, nobody will now dare write off St. Benilde in the title race.
[Edited by MEM on 10-13-2000 at 06:02 PM]
Guts, big heart fanned Blazers’ epic victory
by :Joey Villar 10/13/00
Even the St. Benilde Blazers themselves couldn’t believe how fast they made a name in the NCAA but coach Dong Vergeire thought otherwise because he knew the team has what it takes to become champs — guts and heart.
"This is a sweet victory for us because we won the championship trophy despite the odds," said Vergeire minutes after the Blazers crowned themselves champions of the 76th NCAA basketball tournament Wednesday following a 74-61 victory over the San Sebastian Stags.
http://www.csb.dlsu.edu.ph/blazers/images/champions.jpg
"Everybody was putting us down, as if the team never existed. But we proved them wrong because we believed in ourselves and we put our hearts into it ," the youthful mentor added.
St. Benilde fans chanted "Animo Benilde, Animo Benilde," at the Rizal Coliseum as Vergeire and his boys celebrated their first crown after only three years in the league.
More than determination and a heart of a champion, St. Benilde obviously had the talent – two skilled players in every position — that became noticeable midway in the season when the Taft-based squad started winning.
After the Blazers saw their starting forward Bernardino Menor suffer a serious knee injury for their third straight setback at the start of the season, Vergeire and his charges picked up the pieces as they came away with nine wins in their next 11 outings to finish third behind elimination round topnotchers Jose Rizal and University of Perpetual Help-Rizal.
Written off anew against the Altas, who boasted of Philippine Basketball League veterans in their fold, the Blazers stunned the Las Pińas-based squad with two clutch triumphs to arrange a best-of-three series with the Stags, who stunned the Heavy Bombers in the other semis match.
Again, St. Benilde was the underdog against the much experienced SSC squad but Vergeire proved their critics wrong.
This time, it took a reliever in Mark Magsumbol, who was later named the Most Valuable Player of the series plus a squad of reliable mainstays to beat the Stags.
Magsumbol, a fourth year hotel and restaurant management student, took matters into his own hands as he dished out two heroic performances to power the over-achieving Blazers to victory.
All but two Blazers are eligible to play next season. With an almost intact line up, nobody will now dare write off St. Benilde in the title race.
[Edited by MEM on 10-13-2000 at 06:02 PM]