ALLEN Liwag may just very well be the piece that completes St. Benilde’s long drawn out puzzle in the NCAA.
Having been the ‘favorites’ for the past couple of seasons, the Blazers are yet to find their breakthrough but with the arrival from the transferee out of Emilio Aguinaldo College, that all could change in the 100th season of the NCAA.
Through three games where the Blazers have gone unbeaten, Liwag posted numbers of 14.0 points and 15.7 rebounds on top of 2.7 blocks and 2.0 assists, earning him the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week award in the opening week of the league’s centennial season.
What made it even more impressive is the teams they’ve beaten in that run – from the two finalists in Mapua and San Beda, to a resurgent EAC side.
For Liwag, it’s all a matter of playing ‘relaxed,’ picking his spots and playing his role as the anchor in the paint for the Blazers – and with plenty of options for coach Charles Tiu in the team, he’s certainly flowing this season.
“Siguro, mas OK ang game ko kapag relaxed ako,” Liwag said.
“Siyempre, sobrang laking bagay sa line up namin na kada posisyon, mayroong kayang umiskor at mag-create. Para sa akin, thankful lang ako na lahat kami nagke-create para sa isa’t isa,” he added, noting how having guys like Tony Ynot, Jhomel Ancheta and Justine Sanchez makes it’s easier for him to dominate in the paint.
Liwag posted 23 points, 18 rebounds, three blocks, and an assist in St. Benilde’s 78-65 win over the Cardinals before following it up with a 12-point, 14-rebound outing, alongside three blocks and two dimes, as the Blazers outlasted the Red Lions – the reigning NCAA champions – in overtime, 70-65.
Against his former team EAC, Liwag was limited to seven points, but made it up by grabbing 15 rebounds laced by three assists, two blocks, and one steal as St. Benilde dominated the Generals, 77-55.
For Tiu, he couldn't be happier to see his vision before the season unfold early on in the tournament – with Liwag getting his numbers when needed, while also being content to play his role when his fellow highly-touted transferees are on fire.
“My message to them before the season started is I want to have a team that every game, somebody else is the best player or somebody else is stepping up,” Tiu said.
“It’s part of our plan and that’s why we develop guys throughout the long offseason to be ready for this moment.”
Liwag edged out teammate Ynot, San Sebastian College-Recoletos' Paeng Are, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA rookie Mark Gojo Cruz, and San Beda’s Bryan Sajonia for the weekly award backed by Discovery Suites.
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