Allen Liwag had a standout performance at the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament Individual Awarding Ceremony, taking home two major honors: Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-6 big man from Cavite became the fourth College of Saint Benilde Blazer to win the prestigious MVP award, joining Sunday Salvacion (2002), Jay Sagad (2005), and Will Gozum (2022).
Liwag also ended a three-year streak of MVP winners who were transferees from the UAAP, with the previous honorees being Rhenz Abando (UST to Letran), Will Gozum (UP to Benilde), and Clint Escamis (UE to Mapua).
Liwag’s dominance throughout the season was undeniable, as he averaged 14.61 points, 11.28 rebounds, 2.33 assists, and 1.22 blocks for 52.38 Player Average Value (PAV), leading Benilde to a 14-4 record.
“Nung lumipat ako sa Benilde, talagang sinabi ko na gagawin ko ang lahat para sa school. Sobrang grateful ako sa award na ito,” said Liwag, a former EAC General.
“Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa teammates ko kasi hindi ko ito makukuha kung hindi dahil sa kanila. Grabe rin yung tiwala ng coaches ko sa akin.”
Down 1-0 in the Finals series, Liwag vows to give his all in Game 2 and extend the Blazers’ season.
“Siguro yung performance ko nung Game 1, mas dodoblehin ko pa. Ibubuhos ko na ang lahat,” added Liwag, who had 18 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the series opener last Sunday.
In addition to Liwag’s MVP award, teammate Tony Ynot (39.64) was named to the Mythical Team, along with Escamis (41.44 PAV), Lyceum’s John Barba (40.38), and San Sebastian’s Tristan Felebrico (39.5).
Ynot contributed 10.14 points, 5.43 rebounds, 4.29 assists, and 1.36 steals across 14 games in the elimination round.
Escamis, who led Mapua to a 15-3 record, averaged 15.44 points, 4.0 assists, 3.61 rebounds, and 1.89 steals per game.
Barba, the league’s leading scorer with 17.61 points per game, also added 5.83 rebounds, 2.89 assists, and 1.22 steals per game.
Felebrico, who was also named to the Mythical Team, posted averages of 13.89 points, 8.89 rebounds, and 2.44 assists per game.
Letran’s Jimboy Estrada ranked second in the PAV race with 43.29 but was suspended during the second round, resulting in him being disqualified from receiving any awards.
The Freshman and Rookie of the Year honors went to Cardinals rookie Chris Hubilla (37.11), who impressed with averages of 12.89 points, 6.33 rebounds, and 1.78 assists per game.
Joining Liwag (13.06 DSP) and Felebrico (10.06) in the All-Defensive Team were Letran’s Kevin Santos (8.81), Arellano’s Lorenz Capulong (8.78), and EAC’s Wilmar Oftana (8.61).
Santos was a defensive anchor for the Knights, averaging 4.5 defensive rebounds and 2.13 blocks per game.
Capulong, who is also the Most Improved Player, contributed 4.89 defensive rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, while Oftana grabbed 5.17 rebounds and averaged 1.5 steals per contest.
The Sportsmanship Award went to the San Sebastian Golden Stags.
