BY MILES ARCENAL
WHEN St. Benilde lost Allen Liwag at this stage of the season, it felt like another cruel twist of fate.
Head coach Charles Tiu confirmed that his star big man is dealing with a shoulder sprain - an injury that could keep him out for the rest of the elimination round.
The 6-foot-6 forward, who had just recovered from dengue, was still playing at an MVP level before being sidelined.
READ: San Beda repeats over Benilde to keep Group B supremacy in S101
“It’s an AC joint sprain or there are some tears, so I don’t know,” Tiu said.
“He’ll probably be out for a while, probably for the whole elimination round. Maybe if there’s a miracle he can come back earlier, I’m sure he’d want to.”
The shot-caller couldn’t hide his sympathy for the reigning MVP, who’s had a rough stretch of bad luck.
“I just feel bad for Allen, coming off an MVP year, he was still number one in the MVP race before getting sick. He just had dengue, missed a couple of games, got back, and then gets hurt. So I feel for him.”
Still, Tiu remains hopeful the team can stay in contention long enough for Liwag to return.
“I know he really wants to be there, but I hope we can keep our season alive for him to be able to come back for us,” he added.
Gaspay steps up to the plate
And while the Blazers are adjusting without their anchor, one player has quietly embraced the challenge - forward Jake Gaspay.
In Benilde’s near-comeback against San Beda, Gaspay drilled a big three-pointer that sparked their late rally and made several key defensive plays to help fuel the surge.
“That’s actually been Jake’s calling card,” Tiu said. “I like him because he gives us toughness.”
“He’s one of our tougher players, willing to do the dirty work. He’s not selfish, he’s not looking for fame, he just works.”
As the green-and-white continues its push in the crowded playoff race, Gaspay’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.
With Liwag on the sidelines, his energy and effort have become vital for a team determined to keep fighting and, as Tiu put it, to keep their season alive for their fallen leader.
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