Big man Will Gozum, last year's National Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player, credits College of Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu for giving him the opportunity to ramp up his game.

Speaking during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night in Quezon City, the 6-foot-7 Gozum, who now plays for the Quezon Huskers in the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, said his stints outside the collegiate league have been helping him improve.

"My coaches trust me and my development kept going. I'm thankful for being under these kinds of coaches," Gozum said, referring to Tiu as well as well as his coaches in the OKBet-MPBL.

"This will definitely help me out in my development as a player."

In last year's NCAA cage wars, Gozum averaged 16.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists en route to winning MVP honors and a spot in the Defensive Team.

Before hooking up with the Huskers, the 20-year-old Gozum also suited up for Strong Group Realty in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

When Gozum heads back to the Blazers backyard for Season 99 of the NCAA, he will join hands with Migs Oczon, Miggy Corteza, Prince Carlos and team captain Robi Nayve in the pursuit of putting an end to the school's decades-long title drought.

The coast looks clear for Saint Benilde as defending champion Letran College has lost Fran Yu, Louie Sangalang, Brent Paraizo and King Caralipio, who have all exhausted their playing years for the multi-titled Intramuros-based team.

"Saint Benilde will bounce back from that (failed) finals (bid). We don't want to stop after going from dark horses to finalists," Gozum said.

"The only thing missing is being a champion," he added.