Diliman Dragons do it

The Diliman College Blue Dragons are joining the PBA D-League. This is the culmination of 20 years of quiet determination and hard work, independent of corporate sponsors and moneyed patrons. It is success built on community, family and doing things the right way. They have taken no shortcuts.

Diliman Computer Technology Institute (DCTI) was established in 1998 as a private, non-sectarian tertiary educational institution. In conjunction with the Manpower Skills Training Program in partnership with the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the school initially offered technical and computer and restaurant specific courses. It launched a medical transcription course in 2004 in response to the growing market. Continuing to follow its vision of producing globally competitive graduates, DCTI began offering four-year courses in information technology, business administration, elementary and secondary education and office administration, among others. 

In 2013, the Bureau of Immigration allowed Diliman to start accepting foreign students. The following year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the school’s amended articles of incorporation, thus changing the school name to Diliman College. But since its early years, the school has always prided itself on its superior athletics program.

“We want to have well-rounded students, and sports is an excellent way to teach values,” says Diliman College president and former senator Nikki Coseteng. “Our athletes have excelled in several sports like taekwondo, swimming and chess, among others. And we raise all the funds ourselves.”

The Blue Dragons basketball team, coached by former pro Rensy Bajar, are fighting for a UCBL championship. Their students are members of the national taekwondo team. On Tuesday, a six-man swim team flew to Dubai for an international meet. And all of these are financed internally by the school, the parents and the students.

“Everybody pitches in,” Coseteng elaborates. “For one trip, students baked doughnuts and sold them, and we were able to raise enough money for the airfare of some athletes. Another time, sold backpacks and were able to fund another trip.”

Diliman has been very active in several sports, though it’s basketball and swimming that have garnered the most attention. In 2015, the Blue Dragons were champions of the Millennium Basketball League, the UITM International Sports Fiesta in Selangor, Malaysia and were runner-up in the Mayor Paulino Yap Emano Cup in Misamis Oriental. In the past two years, they’ve been champions in the Youth Basketball Cup, the UCBL Summer Invitational, the Kings of the Court tournament, the HistoryCon 3-on-3 Retro Tournament, Republica Cup, the Fr. Martin’s Summer Cup and the Fr. Martin Cup itself. They’ve also been runner-up in several other tournaments.

“Coach Rensy is really so patient,” Coseteng explains. “You don’t see many coaches developing players from the most basic skills.”

Given the diligence of Bajar, who is also athletic director, and the school’s strong sense of community, it won’t be long before their teams in seven other sports start turning heads, as well.