By: Joaquin Cortez
For the better part of the past three years, Justine Sanchez and Allen Liwag have shared a love-hate relationship.
As teammates at College of Saint Benilde, the two big men have pushed, challenged, and competed against each other while forming one of the NCAA’s more formidable frontcourts.
But beyond the battles on the court, their relationship grew into something deeper.
Despite being the same age, Liwag became a brother to Sanchez, making his absence all the more difficult as the Blazers navigate the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament without their two-time MVP.
Now, Sanchez finds himself on his own in the frontcourt — and carrying a much bigger piece of the load in his final collegiate season. The adjustment, however, did not come easy.
Sanchez struggled in his first game of the season, scoring just one point as he tried to fill the void left by Liwag and the production he brought to both ends of the floor.
“No’ng una, parang finifill ko siya. Kaya masama ‘yong first game ko,” Sanchez said.
“Ngayon, no’ng nakahinga-hinga na ako, naka-adjust na ako. Ini-embrace ko na lang siya ngayon.”
Since then, Sanchez has gradually grown into his expanded role, becoming one of Benilde’s more reliable scoring options and producing his two best offensive performances in the last two games.
He scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Blazers’ loss to Jose Rizal University. Then he followed it up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, and a monster six blocks in their bounce-back victory over winless Mapúa University on Friday.
For Sanchez, stepping up is about more than simply replacing Liwag’s production.
With the Blazers now without one of their veteran leaders, Sanchez has also embraced the responsibility of helping guide his younger teammates and becoming someone they can lean on.
“Para sa akin, iniisip ko na lang lagi na para sa mga kapatid ko ‘to,” Sanchez said.
“Kung paano ako lumaban sa pamilya ko, gusto ko rin gano’n ‘yong sa team ko.”
And while Sanchez has finally found his footing, he knows there is no simple replacement for what Liwag brings to Benilde.
Liwag was supposed to be playing his final collegiate season and had established himself as the Blazers’ anchor, particularly on the glass and on defense. His absence means Sanchez and the rest of the team must collectively make up for what their longtime teammate provided.
“Siyempre, parang kami napilayan na nawala si Allen. Kasi siya ’yong anchor namin sa team,” Sanchez said.
“We all know he’s the man. He’s a two-time MVP.
“Kailangan lang namin na mas maging collective pa as a team kasi malaking bagay ‘yong rebounding and defensive presence ni Allen sa team. Nag-usap-usap na lang kami na tulong-tulong tayo para maiahon ang team,” he added.
For Sanchez, the challenge also comes with an opportunity.
As he enters the final stretch of his collegiate career, the veteran big man wants to leave more than numbers behind. He wants to make an impact on the younger Blazers who will continue the program after he is gone.
“Bago ako mag-graduate, gusto kong makaiwan man lang ako ng magandang legacy sa kanila,” Sanchez said.
For now, though, Sanchez is keeping his eyes on what is immediately in front of him. Rather than looking too far ahead or worrying about Benilde’s championship window, he would rather take the season one game at a time.
“Hindi ko muna nilo-look forward,” Sanchez said on his team’s championship window.
“Kumbaga sa amin, one game at a time. Focus every game, every step. Small steps muna kami ngayon, hindi muna namin tinitingnan ‘yong big picture.”
