Allen Liwag made a timely return from the sick bay, leading a vengeful De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde to an 82-64 rout of San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 101 on Wednesday at the Filoil Centre.
The reigning MVP is back after a two-week layoff due to dengue and immediately made his impact, especially during their second-quarter surge that saw the Blazers pull away for good as they bounced back from a shock loss to Arellano University last Sunday.
Liwag, who missed three games against Letran, Jose Rizal University, and Arellano, posted 19 points and seven rebounds in just 19 minutes of action after entering only in the second period.
Benilde improved to 4-2 in Group B to solidify its hold of the second spot while the Stags absorbed their fourth loss in a row to go 1-6 in Group A.
Benilde and San Sebastian both kept it close in the opening frame with the Blazers building a 19-14 lead through the first. But Benilde turned to Liwag as they unleashed a telling second quarter that spelled all the difference.
John Moareles sparked the run with a triple and a pair of free throws for a 28-16 cushion before Liwag's six points in the succeeding plays allowed the Taft crew to create a 42-24 separation by the halftime break.
The embattled Stags, though, managed to fight back with star rookie Jhuniel Dela Rama and veteran TJ Felebrico each firing a triple to cut the deficit to 10 to open the third frame, 34-44.
But Benilde refused to take its foot off the gas pedal with Liwag completing a three-point play while Ian Torres sank a floater to once again bring Benilde to a comfortable lead at 53-34.
Liwag delivered the finishing touch, soaring for a high jumper before punctuating it with a one-handed slam off a slick between-the-legs pass from another veteran Tony Ynot as they raced to a 71-52 cushion with still 6:28 left in the game.
"We talked about wanting to bounce back and finding our confidence because we haven’t been playing good basketball all season long,” Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said.
“They kind of woke up [today] and got the job done.”
Liwag's return was so infectious that Benilde had a balanced attack as Justine Sanchez posted a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds while Matthew Oli and Morales chipped in 10 and nine markers apiece to power the 18-point victory.
Dela Rama had yet another double-double performance, dropping 20 points and 12 rebounds on top of two assists and two steals while Felebrico chimed in with 12 markers, five dimes, and two boards.
Scores:
Benilde 82 – Liwag 19, Sanchez 16, Oli 10, Morales 9, Gonzaga 6, Torres 4, Umali 3, Gaspay 3, Daja 3, Celis 3, Ynot 2, Moore 2, Cometa 2, Ancheta 0, Galas 0.
San Sebastian 64 – Dela Rama 20, Felebrico 12, Gabat 9, Ricio 9, Velasco 7, Cuajao 3, Lumanag 2, Nepacena 2, Castor 0, Dimaunahan 0, Segovia 0, Gomez De Liaño 0.
Quarters: 19-14, 42-24, 63-43, 82-64.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
