PCU Dolphins

{{More citations needed|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox Philippine collegiate team

|name=PCU Dolphins

|schoolname=Philippine Christian University

|teamlogo=PCU Dolphins (logo).jpg

|league=NCAA South: 1999–present
NCAA: 1996–2007; 2008-09
NAASCU: 2014–present
UCAL: 2018–present

|founded=1996

|titles=NCAA

|total=2 (2004-05, 2006-07)

|jtitles=NCAA

|location=Taft Avenue

|colors={{UAAPicon|PCU}} Blue and silver

|junior=Baby Dolphins

|women=Lady Dolphins

}}

The PCU Dolphins are the senior athletic teams that represent Philippine Christian University. They are currently playing at the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU), after spending a leave of absence from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) basketball.

Their 2004 title was their only NCAA basketball title. The juniors team are the Baby Dolphins while the women's team are the Lady Dolphins.

After the revelation in early 2007 that several of PCU's junior basketball players entered the university using fraudulent papers, the league suspended the school for the 2007-08. With the agreement that their seniors team can play on the 2008-09 season, the school took a voluntary leave of absence from the league starting at the 2009-10 season, in which they should re-apply their membership if ever they intend to return.

Name

Originally, the PCU administration chose a killer whale, but they instead chose a mammal close to their heart, the dolphin. The Juniors (high school) team are the Baby Dolphins.

Basketball

=History=

The PCU Dolphins entered the NCAA in 1996 headed by Orly Torrente (Seniors) and Karl de Guia (Juniors). Then known as the PCU Saints then went to the latter known, PCU Dolphins. They were known for their exemplary defense and hunger for the ball, leading to their only NCAA championship in 2004. The Dolphins' only problem is that they cannot seem to keep a head coach.

Also, the Baby Dolphins lose their best players to other college teams. Great players have been coming out of the PCU Baby Dolphins squad, but the coaches cannot seem to convince them to stay in PCU. Good players have included Ronjay Buenafe (EAC Generals), Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Ateneo Blue Eagles), James Mangahas (De La Salle Green Archers), Allan Mangahas (Mapua Cardinals), Jake Pascual (San Beda Red Lions) and Gabby Martinez.

=PCU eligibility scandal=

After allegations of identity switching circulated via text messaging, Philippine Christian University (PCU) was investigated by the Management Committee (MANCOM) for alleged eligibility infractions on several of its varsity teams.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=56496 NCAA to probe PCU ineligibility case after all] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213214551/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=56496 |date=2008-02-13 }} by Marc Anthony Reyes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The MANCOM has completed its own investigation and are waiting for PCU's internal investigation and has hinted of suspending the Dolphins for Season 83 after PCU's representatives did not show up in the MANCOM meeting.[http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0420&212007/sports01.html Suspension Looms: P.C.U. OFFICIALS ARE A NO-SHOW AND N.C.A.A. BRASS HINTS OF DRASTIC SANCTIONS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229152407/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0420%26212007/sports01.html |date=2007-12-29 }}

After the deliberation by the MANCOM, the NCAA, via a statement issued by NCAA and José Rizal University (JRU) President Vicente Fabella, suspended the Dolphins from all events after four players of the Baby Dolphins basketball team were found to have used falsified documents. The Baby Dolphins were ordered to return their second-place trophy from last season's tournament and all individual awards. The senior Dolphins' 2005-06 general championship trophy was retained, however.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=62066 NCAA slaps one-year suspension on PCU] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714082801/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=62066 |date=2007-07-14 }}

=Rivalries=

  • Letran Knights - Met twice in the Final 4 (PCU won both), once in the Finals (Letran won)
  • San Beda Red Lions - Met once in the Finals (San Beda won and ended 28 years of Championship drought)

=Players of note=

=Juniors=

=Withdrawal from the NCAA=

Rumors have leaked that PCU will not be with the NCAA at the start of the 85th season. Reasons for this are as follows{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}: (note: the ff. reasons are still rumors)

  • PCU plans to go to the UAAP
  • PCU plans to go to other leagues such as NCRAA, CUSA, etc.
  • PCU wants to rebuild and come back with a stronger lineup at the start of the 86th season, a season in which it will host.

There were talks of a possible PCU Dolphins comeback just before the 87th season started. The basketball team was rumored to be spearheaded by coach Ato Tolentino, who led the Dolphins to their first and only basketball championship back in 2004. The talks died because of financial issues within the PCU organization.

= Season-by-season record =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! rowspan="2" |Season

! rowspan="2" |League

! colspan="6" |Elimination round

! colspan="4" |Playoffs

Pos

!GP

!W

!L

!PCT

!GB

!GP

!W

!L

!Result

1996

|NCAA

|7th/7

|12

|0

|12

|.000

|10

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

1997

|NCAA

|7th/7

|12

|0

|12

|.000

|12

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

1998

|NCAA

|8th/8

|14

|0

|14

|.000

|

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

1999

|NCAA

|7th/8

|14

|5

|9

|.357

|4

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

2000

|NCAA

|7th/8

|14

|4

|10

|.286

|7

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

2001

|NCAA

|5th/8

|14

|7

|7

|.500

|4

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

2002

|NCAA

|3rd/8

|14

|9

|5

|.643

|2

|2

|1

|1

|Lost semifinals vs Benilde

2003

|NCAA

|8th/8

|14

|5

|9

|.357

|4

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

bgcolor=gold

|2004

|NCAA

|2nd/8

|14

|10

|4

|.714

|—

|4

|3

|1

|Won Finals vs Perpetual

bgcolor=silver

|2005

|NCAA

|2nd/8

|14

|10

|4

|.714

|3

|4

|2

|2

|Lost Finals vs Letran

bgcolor=silver

|2006

|NCAA

|2nd/8

|14

|10

|4

|.714

|3

|5

|3

|2

|Lost Finals vs San Beda

2007

|NCAA

| colspan="10" |Suspended

2008

|NCAA

|7th/8

|14

|3

|11

|.214

|8

| colspan="4" |Did not qualify

colspan="3" |NCAA totals

!164

!63

!101

!.384

!

!15

!9

!6

!1 championship

Other sports

  • Roel Licayan (3-time gold medalist NCAA Lawn Tennis-Juniors Division)

Championships won

=Seniors=

  • Basketball - 1 (2004–2005), (3 straight Finals appearance in '04, '05, '06)
  • Football - 3 (1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2000–2001)
  • Track and Field - 1 (2005–2006)
  • Swimming - 3 (1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002)
  • Volleyball
  • (M) - 1 (2005, 2006)
  • (W) - 2 (2003–2004, 2004–2005)
  • Table Tennis (W) - 1 (2004–2005)
  • Beach Volleyball (W) - 1 (2004–2005)
  • Total = 13 championships

=Juniors=

  • Track and Field - 2 (2002–2003, 2004–2005)
  • Table Tennis - 1 (2004–2005)
  • Chess - 3 (2005–2006)
  • Total = 6

{{NCAAPhilippines}}

References