Benilde star Liwag says Gilas SEA Games call-up a ‘morale booster’

Benilde’s Allen Liwag (34)

(NCAA Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines — Every aspiring basketball player dreams of representing his country in international tournaments.

Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Allen Liwag is no different.

Liwag, Benilde’s main man in the middle, is one of the 12 players included in Gilas Pilipinas’ Southeast Asian (SEA) Games roster.

The 6-foot-6 banger is one of Gilas’ big men, along with Abu Tratter, Justin Chua and Ced Manzano.

Liwag, who flexed his muscles inside in Benilde’s 77-75 win over San Beda in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball semifinals on Friday, said he dreamt of putting the Gilas jersey on since he was a kid.

“Siyempre, may effect siya sa akin kasi natatawagan ako para mag-represent ng country. So, malaking bagay siya sa akin and pangarap ko yun nung bata pa lang ako,” he said.

“So, para sa akin, talagang morale booster.”

He admitted that he did not expect to be named in the final 12, and he just focused on playing for the Blazers. And once he went to his first training, he just showcased what he can do, and he ultimately got the nod of Gilas’ head coach for the SEA Games Norman Black.

Benilde head coach Charles Tiu, for his part, threw his full support on Liwag.

“If there's a chance to play for the country, how can you say no to that? I know we represent our school and everything, but that's one of the greatest honors you can have, 'di ba? So for me na, they even considered Allen, sobrang nakakatawa yan, 'di ba?” Tiu said.

“I'm proud of Allen na pinaghirapan niya yan, 'di ba? I don't think anybody expected this coming from him out of nowhere until naging MVP siya. And dahan-dahan, it says a lot about him, the hard work, 'di ba? So right away, we said yes and thankfully naman nag-cooperate,” he added.

The men’s 5-on-5 basketball tourney in the SEA Games is set to start on December 14. But Liwag and the Blazers will turn their focus on the sudden-death matchup with the Red Lions on Sunday.