He may be the NCAA MVP in back-to-back seasons, but make no mistake about it: Allen Liwag isn't satisfied one bit.
And as he enters his final year for St. Benilde this upcoming Season 102, the 6-foot-6 slotman from Alfonso, Cavite is hungry to seize the ultimate prize in his final go-round in the 'Grand Ol' League.'
"Different year, pero same goal pa rin yung team namin. Pipilitin naming makapasok sa Final Four and then susubukan naming kunin ang championship," he said.
It's a target that has been there ever since Liwag transferred from Emilio Aguinaldo College to CSB, further reinforcing the Blazers' position as a perennial contender.
Yet in his third playing season in Vito Cruz, those aspirations remain unrealized.
Compound to that the doubts in his second MVP campaign last year, when he dealt with a multitude of injuries, but earned just enough statistical points and met the minimum games required to come away with the award, and many people surely raised their eyebrows on his capacity to lead.
Follow Allen's lead
That isn't lost on Liwag, who is now thrust into greater responsibilities not just as the Blazers' elder statesman, but also their leader by default with contemporaries like Shawn Umali and Tony Ynot gone.
And admittedly, the job isn't easy.
"Nahirapan din ako," said the usually reserved Liwag. "Kasi dati ang iniisip ko lang is maglaro. Ngayon, lahat ng gagawin ko, nakatingin ang mga kakampi ko sa akin."
As tall as the task is, Liwag has no other option but to tackle the challenge head-on, one that he's already doing in the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup.
"Kailangan mag-lead by example ako and day-by-day, tinutulungan din ako ng coaches ko kung paano ili-lead yung team," he said. "Tina-try ko din maging vocal para sabihan yung teammates ko at i-remind sila sa disiplina na kailangan namin on and off the court."
The jury is still out if Liwag can indeed fulfill this new role, but you better bet that a championship at the end of the season will put all of those doubts to bed.
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