De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s eight academic schools battled it out in spirited competition for Benilde League 2026. Held from July 28 to 31, the tournament brought students together in Basketball, Volleyball, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Now on its third year under the leadership and supervision of the Benilde Student Government (BeSG), the League introduced a renewed direction through its theme, “Blaze Within.” While maintaining its commitment to fostering healthy competition, this year’s edition placed greater emphasis on structure, school representation, and community, marking a shift from previous iterations of the league.
Unlike past editions that allowed students to freely form their own teams, the 2026 Benilde League required participants to compete under their respective academic schools. This streamlined format reduced the number of sporting events, allowing the organizers to focus on building stronger school identities and more competitive tournaments.
For the organizing committee, these changes reflected a deliberate effort to strengthen the League’s purpose. “We wanted our fellow Benildeans to find their own blaze within themselves,” said Joseph Louise Guerrero, ID123 Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs (AB-DIA) and the Secretary General of the BeSG.
Inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians, each academic school was assigned an Olympian house that reflected their identity and strengths. The theme extended throughout the tournament from the schools’ assigned colors and identities to the overall visual presentation.
Beyond the creative direction, organizers emphasized how the League continues to address a broader need within campus life. “The lack of unity through activities and events between the schools,” became the inspiration for the League, as Guerrero shared.
The League also continued to serve as a platform for student development beyond athletics. Through competition, participants were encouraged to practice leadership, teamwork, discipline, and resilience. Those values were reflected throughout the tournament as schools competed for the overall championship.
The School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) emerged as the Benilde League 2026 Overall Champion after finishing with 22 points. The school secured the volleyball championship and runner-up finishes in basketball and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang to top the overall standings.
The School of Management and Information Technology-Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship (SMIT-LME) cluster followed closely with 20 points after capturing the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang championship, while the SMIT-Analytics, Computing, and Infotech (SMIT-ACI) cluster finished third overall with nine points.
Following SHRIM’s championship run, Basketball Most Valuable Player Xian Arkin Solis, an ID125 student from the Culinary Arts Management (BS-CAM) program, reflected on the team's journey to the title, emphasizing that their success was built on chemistry rather than time together.
"Our preparation was less about court time and more about building [connections]," he shared. "Our team blended naturally over a short period of time both on and off the court, and that chemistry allowed us to play with a level of trust and respect that is usually seen in teams who have spent more time together."
Looking back on the tournament, the Basketball MVP also expressed his appreciation to those who stood behind the team throughout the League.
"Huge thanks to my parents, my sisters, my girlfriend, our management, and to everyone [who] supported us. We appreciate the love and the effort that was given to us from the start," he said.
Solis also acknowledged the organizers for the successful staging of the tournament, adding, "I want to extend my gratitude to the organizers for running such a fun event. I'm excited for the next [one]!"
As another season comes to a close, the Benilde League continues to evolve alongside the Benilde community. This year's more structured format demonstrated a renewed commitment to strengthening school representation while creating meaningful opportunities for students to compete, collaborate, and build lasting connections.
