NCAA: Allen Liwag makes most of his return for Benilde

St. Benilde Blazers’ Allen Liwag during a game against EAC Generals in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament. –NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Allen Liwag was sidelined for four games in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, and if you ask him, that’s four games too many.

In his much-awaited return on Friday, Liwag showed just why he was the reigning MVP of the league, powering College of St. Benilde to an 87-82 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College in Group B action at San Juan Arena.

READ: NCAA: Allen Liwag leads Benilde past EAC to secure playoff edge

“This game was so important,” Liwag said, fresh off a triumphant return. “I feel like I lost myself and my feel on the court so I tried to get it back on this game slowly.”

Liwag played like he wasn’t coming off a nagging shoulder injury with a near double-double of 16 points and eight rebounds with two assists, two steals and a block in 19 minutes of action.

The big man recorded numbers near his averages of 15.71 points and 9.0 rebounds in seven games played.

As if his recovery from injury wasn’t enough of a motivation, Liwag was also fired up upon learning who the Blazers would face in the quarterfinals.

Backed with a twice-to-beat advantage after ending the elimination round with a 9-4 record, Benilde has a huge chance of exacting revenge over defending champion Mapua, which swept them in yesteryear’s Finals.

“It’s automatic. That game is going to be good. We faced off last year in the Finals so we’ll be ready in the right way so we can bounce back,” he said.

The Cardinals fell to the third seed of Group A with a twice-to-win disadvantage earlier in the day after succumbing to Arellano, 62-58.

At the end of Friday’s double-header, the Blazers and the Chiefs clinched the twice-to-beat advantages as the second seeds of their respective groups.