One Sports
Friday, June 06, 2025
The College of St. Benilde is experiencing a resurgence as Shawn Umali is bringing toughness and talent to the Blazers' immaculate run in the Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup.
Big man Shawn Umali's transfer from Lyceum will see a big boost for Benilde in the long run. | Photo: FilOil EcoOil Sports
FALLING short of the NCAA crown last season, College of St. Benilde is pinning its hopes that the changes to its team would finally get it over the hump this time out.
The biggest – literally and figuratively – piece of the puzzle might just be Shawn Umali.
The transferee from Lyceum of the Philippines University has really been heaven sent for the Blazers, not only adding ceiling to the team which already boasts of Allen Liwag but also bringing in toughness.
So far, the results have been promising, as evidenced by CSB’s immaculate 4-0 record in the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive to stay on top of the NCAA Bracket.
And you bet, coach Charles Tiu is just beaming for the luxury that he has when it comes to the Umali-Liwag tandem.
“I think it’s a bit of a matchup problem for the opposing teams. Obviously, they want to put their best big man on Allen, but Shawn is as big of a piece for us," he said. "They’re two legit post threats, but at the same time, we also have to figure out how we can play them together."
Lucky for the Taft side, this partnership only fuels Liwag and Umali to bring out the best in each other as they try to figure out to be the lethal 1-2 punch they’re envisioned to be.
“Malaking bagay siya sa team namin. May experience na siya sa NCAA so nagtutulungan lang kami sa anong pwede naming gawin,” said Liwag, the NCAA Season 100 MVP.
Umali agreed, noting, “Naga-adjust lang din kami sa anong pwede naming gawin sa loob. Parehas naman kaming ready to post and willing to pass, so tulungan lang din talaga.”
And it’s not just limited to the two, with their fine play also rubbing off to their teammates with the ultimate goal of helping the Blazers achieve their goals of winning it all for the first time since 2000.
“The team is showing some good composure and we acknowledge that this is a good opportunity for us to be better,” said Tiu of this tilt which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
But despite the brewing pressure coming CSB’s way with these wins, Tiu made one thing perfectly clear.
“We just want to win every game we play.”