Allen Liwag to Make Season 102 Debut for Benilde Against JRU

Two-time NCAA MVP Allen Liwag will make his Season 102 debut for the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers against José Rizal University on Friday, November 6, Charles Tiu confirmed.

Tiu said Liwag will be on a minutes restriction as he returns from an Achilles injury. The 6-foot-6 big man underwent surgery in August, less than a month before the start of his final collegiate season.

He watched from the bench as the Blazers beat defending champion San Beda in their September 13 opener. At the time, Benilde head coach Paolo Layug had yet to set a timetable for his return.

Liwag rejoins the Blazers with two games left in the group stage. Benilde enters Friday’s matchup at 8–3, while the Heavy Bombers are 9–3.

A win would put the Blazers ahead of JRU with a game still to play against San Beda on November 10.

In his first season with Benilde after transferring from Emilio Aguinaldo College, Liwag averaged 14.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks in the Season 100 elimination round. He won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and helped the Blazers reach the finals, where they fell to Mapúa.

Liwag became the first player in Benilde history to win back-to-back NCAA MVP awards the following season.

Dengue and a left shoulder sprain limited him to seven elimination-round games, but he averaged 15.7 points and 9.0 rebounds. In his return from the shoulder injury, he put up 16 points and eight rebounds against his former school to help Benilde secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

The Blazers went on to take eventual champion San Beda to a deciding third game in the semifinals.

Benilde and JRU tip off at 5 p.m. Friday.