NCAA: Reigning MVP Liwag, MVP contender Mangubat downplay heated exchange in JRU-Benilde clash

They say, “to be the best, you have to beat the best.” And that must have been on some fans’ minds while witnessing a heated moment between two top players during Friday’s game between De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Jose Rizal University.

In the third quarter of the game, which the Heavy Bombers eventually won, 85-79, reigning back-to-back NCAA MVP Allen Liwag blocked an attempt by this season’s MVP contender Lawrence Mangubat before he shouted at the JRU guard along the sidelines.

Both players were assessed technical fouls for the incident, but the exchange appeared to add more fuel to the fire, particularly for Mangubat, who went on to finish with a career-high 27 points that afternoon.

“Balewala naman sa akin ‘yun, parang tine-testing niya ako,” Mangubat said.

“Para sa sarili ko rin, kailangan ko rin i-overcome ‘yung mga ganong trash talk kasi ganoon din ako. Minsan ako rin ‘yung nangunguna, so dapat marunong akong tumanggap.”

(It was nothing to me, he was just testing me. Even for me, I need to overcome that kind of trash talk because I’m like that too. Sometimes, I instigate it, so I should know how to take it.)

Asked what Liwag told him during their on-court exchanges, Mangubat said, “Parang hina-hype niya ako. Sabi ko lang, hindi na ako rookie, naglaban na tayo dati. Sumagot siya, sabi ko lang, try me. Parang ganon lang, wala lang naman ‘yun. Parang in-enjoy lang namin ‘yung game.”

(He was hyping me. I just said, I’m not a rookie. We faced off before. He answered so I said, try me. It was nothing. We were just enjoying the game.)

Liwag also played down the exchange, explaining that he was simply overwhelmed with emotion after finally getting back on the court following an extended absence for much of the season due to his injury.

“Nagulat lang din ako na may sinabi siya, pero di ko masyado naiintindihan eh,” Liwag said.

“Pero sa akin naman, na-miss ko lang talaga maglaro eh, so ‘yung burst of emotion ko nandoon lang na napasigaw lang ako kasi yung emotion ko, hindi ko na rin napigilan ‘yun eh, pero wala naman akong sinabi or what.”

(I was surprised that he said something, but I didn’t really hear it well. But for me, I just really missed laying so it was just a burst emotion, I had to shout out. I wasn’t able to hold it in, but I didn’t really say anything or what.)

With the victory, JRU secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Benilde, meanwhile, will face San Beda University on Tuesday to determine its final standing.

—JMB, GMA News