By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
College of St. Benilde bruiser Allen Liwag took the spotlight on Saturday, Dec. 7, after bagging the Most Valuable Player plum in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball in a simple awarding ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-6 behemoth lorded it over the stat sheets that also saw him clinching the Defensive Player of the Year Award to lead the individual awardees prior to Game 2 finals of the CSB Blazers and the Mapua Cardinals.
He became the first player from St. Benilde to win the top individual trophy since Will Gozum in 2022.
“Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko ang lahat for the school,” said Liwag, whose performance steered the Blazers to a return trip to the finals.
“Hindi ko makukuha ito kung wala yung mga teammates and coaches ko. Binabalik ko lang din yung tiwala ang binigay nila sakin,” the former Emilio Aguinaldo College player added.
Liwag spearheaded the Mythical Five team that also has last year’s MVP Clint Escamis of Mapua, Lyceum’s Ato Barba, San Sebastian’s TJ Felebrico and Liwag’s teammate Tony Ynot.
He also led the All-Defensive team composed of Felebrico, Letran’s Kevin Santos, Arellano’s JL Capulong, and EAC’s Wilmar Oftana.
But the individual feats are not enough for Liwag. At press time, the Blazers are fighting to extend their best-of-three finals series to a deciding Game 3 after bowing in Game 1, 84-73, last week.
Liwag promised to give it all out.
“Now or never na. Ibubuhos ko na lahat. Dodoblehin ko pa ang effort ko para sa championship,” said Liwag moments before Game 2.
Meanwhile, Mapua’s Chris Hubilla bagged the Rookie of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards, Capulong as Most Improved Player and the San Sebastian Stags as Sportsmanship award.
