Without Two-Time MVP Liwag, Rookie Jucom Steps Up

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde opened NCAA Season 102 with a statement, taking down defending champion San Beda, 77-68, despite missing reigning MVP Allen Liwag.

With Liwag sidelined by an undisclosed injury, rookie Matthew Jucom stepped up in his NCAA debut to help the Blazers pull off the upset.

Jucom finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and one assist, giving the Blazers a big lift in his first game.

“Na-excite ako kasi first game ko and maganda agad ’yung pinakita ko… Ginawa ko lang ’yung trabaho ko as a player and naniwala ako sa sistema ng mga coaches,” Jucom said.

Benilde coach Paolo Layug gave an update on Liwag, saying, “He is recovering. Hopefully he will be back soon, but we have other guys who can step in; that’s what we expect. Today it was Irele [Galas] — he got us, he played great today.”

Galas emerged as another reliable contributor for Benilde, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds as the Blazers dealt with the absence of their MVP.

Jhomel Ancheta, meanwhile, stepped up with 19 points, making key plays in crunch time as Benilde looked to put away the defending champion.

For San Beda, the loss showed that its title defense will not be easy. The Red Lions lost several key pieces from last season’s championship team, and their first game immediately put their new-look roster to the test.

Benilde, on the other hand, showed that it can compete with the defending champion even without its two-time MVP, getting some payback after San Beda knocked them out in the Final Four last season.