NEWLY APPOINTED College of St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu is certainly ready to guide the Blazers to scale new heights.
He just hopes the 97th NCAA basketball tournament will not be in a bubble set-up.
“I do hope it will not be in a bubble. That will be mentally challenging for everybody. I am seeing most leagues pushing through already and even starting to allow fans,” Tiu told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“I hope the season happens already. It’s been way too long. I feel bad for the players who have had to wait,” he added.
Tiu, who took over from erstwhile chief tactician TY Tang, is looking forward to rising to the occasion.
“I feel excited about the CSB job. (I’m) very thankful to the school to be given the opportunity,” Tiu said.
“It’s a tough challenge and hopefully we can do well.”
Tang took a leave of absence and immigrated to Canada with his family last September.
Tiu won titles as coach of Go for Gold in the PBA D-League, Mighty Sports in the 2019 Jones Cup in Taiwan, and the 2020 Dubai International Basketball Championship. He has also handled Nueva Ecija in the MPBL and was tapped to be a part of coach Norman Black’s brain thrust in Meralco in the PBA, as well as one of the assistant coaches of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth squad.
The brother of former Rain or Shine player and Ateneo standout Chris was a deputy to Rajko Toroman in Smart Gilas and Barako Bull.
“We have been in communication, talking to the players a lot but still we cannot train together face-to-face so it’s challenging,” he said.
“They just make do for those who have courts, they shoot, and also do workouts from my conditioning coach.”
The NCAA is eyeing to launch its 97th season early next year.
The country’s oldest collegiate league pushed through this season with virtual and skills events, with the basketball and volleyball tournaments getting canceled.
Taekwondo and chess were both held online, while alumni from all 10 member-schools participated in All-Star Skills competitions for both basketball and volleyball.
With Fil-Am forward Justin Gutang leading the way, the Blazers nearly advanced to the Final Four with a 9-9 card, good for fifth, in the last NCAA cage wars in 2019.
In a big blow to CSB’s bid, Gutang has opted to forgo his final year with the team.
CSB also lost guard Yankie Haruna, forward Edward Dixon, guard Carlo Young, Kendrix Belgica, and Unique Naboa.
Holdovers Jimboy Pasturan, Prince Carlos, and Robi Nayve, along with prized transferees Will Gozum and Migs Oczon are expected to lead the Blazers’ charge next season.
The Taft-based crew last reached the Final Four in 2002 and is raring to end a 21-year title drought after last winning a crown in 2000 behind the likes of former pros Sunday Salvacion and Jondan Salvador, and Al Magpayo.
