MANILA, Philippines – In the wake of a four-game losing streak – including an embarrassing 44-point defeat to Lyceum of the Philippnes University – the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers knew that something had to change.

And so after their 55-98 loss at the hands of the Pirates, team captain Gerard Castor issued a challenge to his teammates. According to JJ Domingo, the fate of their hairstyles hinged on the result of their game against Colegio de San Juan de Letran last August 3: win, and they can keep their locks. Lose, and they all shave their heads.

Playing on the road, the Blazers kept in step with the Knights for three quarters, before eventually fading down the stretch while Rey Nambatac dragged Letran to victory, 92-76.

Five days later, all the Blazers showed up at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan with their heads closely shaved, just in time to face the Mapua University Cardinals in a battle of the league's bottom-dwellers.

• READ: CSB jumps on Mapua to climb out of bottom of standings

"Nagulat din ako noon eh," CSB coach TY Tang said of his players' new hairstyles. "I was coming to practice, and I didn't know anything about it. They just had the commitment to themselves."

For Domingo, their shaved heads showed that, for one thing, they respected the leadership of Castor, who had laid down the gauntlet for them in the first place.

"Doon mo makikita 'yung leadership ni Castor sa loob at sa labas ng court. Kami, nirerespeto namin siya, kaya lahat kami, ginawa namin 'yun," he said.

For another, it was a display of solidarity and unity by the Blazers, who are trudging through yet another challenging campaign in the NCAA, having lost four of their first five games in Season 93. Moreover, their lone win came via forfeiture, after University of Perpetual Help wore wrong uniforms in their season-opener.

Their new hairstyle worked like a lucky charm for the Blazers on Tuesday, as they overcame the Cardinals, 74-69, after rallying from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter. Domingo led the way for CSB with a career-high 24 points.

"Maybe, it's a symbol of unity and character in terms of building themselves, playing and building together whatever happens," Tang said.

"That's one thing the coaches are really happy about. 'Di mo makikita 'yun through certain players. Not all players do that. But they are willing to sacrifice everything just for the common goal, and that's to start winning games," he added.

Tang is hopeful that the Blazers can build on their win against Mapua – their first victory inside the hardcourt this season – and improve as the tournament progresses.

"Hopefully, this will be a morale booster for us, in terms of character," said Tang.

"Masaya kami sa panalo, pero 'di pa tapos ang season namin," said Domingo. "We will still work hard."

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