For De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde big man Allen Liwag, teamwork will prove to be key in ending Mapua University’s winning streak in NCAA Season 100.
The Blazers are eyeing to end their 24-year title drought, while the Cardinals are looking to lift the trophy after a longer wait of 33 years both in the name of history.
CSB, though, saw a dip in performance in the final stretch of the eliminations where it lost two of its last three assignments before ousting defending champion San Beda University with a decisive 79-63 semifinal victory last Saturday to gain some steam.
As the Blazers tried to regain footing in that stretch, the Cardinals are now riding on the momentum of a 10-game winning streak after hacking out an 89-79 win against Lyceum of the Philippines in the other Final Four pairing heading into Game 1 of the title clash on Sunday.
“Wala namang [intimidation na nararamdaman]. Pero siyempre nandun ‘yung respeto mo sa team na ‘yun. Kasi talagang malakas rin ‘yung Mapua. Pero sa amin talaga hindi namin iniisip kung ano ‘yung nangyari na dati. Mas mahalaga kung ano ‘yung meron sa harap namin ngayon,” Liwag told GMA News Online.
“Siguro ‘yung teamwork namin [magiging factor of our chances.] Kung paano namin [tinulungan] ‘yung bawat isa. Nakita ko naman nag-eenjoy lang lahat. Sobrang locked in lang talaga lahat. Lalo na sa depensa siguro ‘yun ‘yung magiging factor,” he said.
As Liwag braces for his first shot at a title after transferring from Emilio Aguinaldo College where he exhausted two playing years, he understands what it takes to stop reigning MVP Clint Escamis, who exploded for a career-best 33 points in the semifinal.
But there is more to the Cardinals than Escamis as their reliable supporting cast has been proven to be just as much of a threat, and Liwag knows this.
“‘Yun talaga ‘yung isa namin kailangan na i-stop. Si [Clint] Escamis and then sunod na ‘yung ibang mga players na katulad nila [Chris] Hubilla, [John] Recto, [Lawrence] Mangubat mga seniors nila,” he said.
“Pero ramdam ko na ginagabayan ni Lord ‘yung team. Kahit anong mangyari sa amin, up and down, simula sa practice pa lang. Ramdam ko rin sa mga kakampi ko na talagang gusto namin manalo.”
Benilde and Mapua will start their best-of-three series on Sunday, December 1, 2:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
