By: Joaquin Cortez

For the better part of the past three years, Justine Sanchez and Allen Liwag have shared a love-hate relationship.

As teammates at College of Saint Benilde, the two big men have pushed, challenged, and competed against each other while forming one of the NCAA’s more formidable frontcourts.

But beyond the battles on the court, their relationship grew into something deeper.

Despite being the same age, Liwag became a brother to Sanchez, making his absence all the more difficult as the Blazers navigate the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament without their two-time MVP.

Now, Sanchez finds himself on his own in the frontcourt—and carrying a much bigger piece of the load in his final collegiate season.

The adjustment, however, did not come easy.

Sanchez struggled in his first game of the season, scoring just one point as he tried to fill the void left by Liwag and the production he brought to both ends of the floor.

“No’ng una, parang finifill ko siya. Kaya masama ‘yong first game ko,” Sanchez said.

“Ngayon, no’ng nakahinga-hinga na ako, naka-adjust na ako. Ini-embrace ko na lang siya ngayon.”

Since then, Sanchez has gradually grown into his expanded role, becoming one of Benilde’s more reliable scoring options and producing his two best offensive performances in the last two games.

He scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Blazers’ loss to Jose Rizal University before following it up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, and a monster six blocks in their bounce-back victory over winless Mapúa University on Friday.

For Sanchez, stepping up is about more than simply replacing Liwag’s production.

With the Blazers now without one of their veteran leaders, Sanchez has also embraced the responsibility of helping guide his younger teammates and becoming someone they can lean on.

“Para sa akin, iniisip ko na lang lagi na para sa mga kapatid ko ‘to,” Sanchez said.

“Kung paano ako lumaban sa pamilya ko, gusto ko rin gano’n ‘yong sa team ko.”

And while Sanchez has finally found his footing, he knows there is no simple replacement for what Liwag brings to Benilde.

Liwag was supposed to be playing his final collegiate season and had established himself as the Blazers’ anchor, particularly on the glass and on defense. His absence means Sanchez and the rest of the team must collectively make up for what their longtime teammate provided.

“Siyempre, parang kami napilayan na nawala si Allen. Kasi siya ’yong anchor namin sa team,” Sanchez said.

“We all know he’s the man. He’s a two-time MVP.

“Kailangan lang namin na mas maging collective pa as a team kasi malaking bagay ‘yong rebounding and defensive presence ni Allen sa team. Nag-usap-usap na lang kami na tulong-tulong tayo para maiahon ang team,” he added.

For Sanchez, the challenge also comes with an opportunity.

As he enters the final stretch of his collegiate career, the veteran big man wants to leave more than numbers behind. He wants to make an impact on the younger Blazers who will continue the program after he is gone.

“Bago ako mag-graduate, gusto kong makaiwan man lang ako ng magandang legacy sa kanila,” Sanchez said.

For now, though, Sanchez is keeping his eyes on what is immediately in front of him.

Rather than looking too far ahead or worrying about Benilde’s championship window, he would rather take the season one game at a time.

“Hindi ko muna nilolook forward,” Sanchez said on his team’s championship window.

“Kumbaga sa amin, one game at a time. Focus every game, every step. Small steps muna kami ngayon, hindi muna namin tinitingnan ‘yong big picture.”

The post With Allen Liwag out, Justine Sanchez draws on three years of brotherhood to step up appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

By: Joaquin Cortez

Like many standout juniors from the Grand Old League before him, NCAA Season 101 Finals MVP Justin Cargo could have followed the familiar path from the high school ranks to the UAAP.

Instead, the 6-foot guard from Negros Occidental chose to stay with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and continue his development with the Knights.

Three games into his collegiate career, that decision is already looking like the right one.

The former Squires star, who helped steer Letran to the Season 101 juniors crown and earned Finals MVP honors, finally enjoyed his first breakout moment on the seniors stage.

“Masaya. Pinagtrabahuhan ko naman po ‘to,” said the 20-year-old Cargo after his breakout performance.

“Sinusunod ko lang ‘yong pinapagawa sa akin, lalo na ‘yong defense.”

Against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Thursday, Cargo paced the Knights with a career-high 22 points, along with three rebounds and two steals, to power Letran past the Generals.

Cargo’s emergence has not surprised head coach Allen Ricardo, who has long believed that the former Squires leader possessed the tools to make an immediate impact at the next level.

“Well, for Justin Cargo, it’s all about the character,” Ricardo said.

“‘Yan talaga ‘yong nakita ko sa kanya since high school, kaya hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na kunin siya. Alam ko kung ano ‘yong kaya niyang ibigay.”

(C) NCAA

Cargo’s decision to remain with Letran also stands out at a time when several former NCAA Juniors MVPs have opted to continue their careers in the UAAP.

Among the notable names who made the jump are former NCAA Juniors MVPs Amiel Acido, JD Cagulangan, Luis Pablo, and Lebron Jhames Daep, while Sean Franco recently transferred to the University of the Philippines.

Cargo admitted that there was interest from UAAP schools during the recruitment process, although he declined to identify which programs reached out.

In the end, however, staying with Letran offered him something he valued more than a change of scenery.

“Una-una, as a player, kailangan ko rin ng playing time kung saan ako magagamit,” Cargo said.

“No’ng pag-ensayo ko pa lang sa Letran, nakita ko na magagamit talaga ako dito. Sabi naman ni Coach Allen, talagang may plano siya para sa akin.”

That trust has already translated into a larger role for the Knights, with Cargo thriving in Letran’s up-tempo system while adjusting to the physicality and speed of the collegiate game.

“Siguro ‘yong maturity lang po at ‘yong pagiging mas patient,” Cargo said when asked about the biggest adjustment from juniors to seniors.

After watching Letran fall short in last season’s NCAA Finals, the rookie guard is determined to help bring the Knights back to the championship stage.

“’Yong natalo sila last year, siyempre naramdaman ko rin kung gaano kasakit ‘yong pakiramdam na matalo sa finals,” he said.

“Goal namin ngayong season na makabawi, makabalik sa finals, at makuha ‘yong championship this year.”

The post Despite UAAP interest, Justin Cargo trusted Letran’s plan for him appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Perpetual Help had to navigate a major setback during the offseason when Patrick Sleat, Olsen Racela’s trusted all-around forward since their days at Far Eastern University, decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and turn professional with San Juan.

The departure left a significant hole for the Altas, with Sleat having played a key role in steering Perpetual Help to a Final Four appearance in NCAA Season 101.

But rather than dwell on the loss, Racela and his players used the offseason to prepare for a new-look campaign, with the Altas gradually finding their footing after an opening-day defeat to Letran.

“Noong summer, we adjusted already, and the players knew that it was up to them that we lost six players, but this is their opportunity now so I think lahat sila they’re just grabbing the opportunity na binigay sa kanila,” said Racela.

Perpetual Help has since built momentum, winning two straight games after beating San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 86-74, on Monday.

The Altas have also received timely contributions from several players who have embraced bigger roles in the absence of their departed veterans.

After Mark Gojo Cruz powered Perpetual Help past Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday, LA Casinillo and JM Tulabut took charge against the Stags when San Sebastian threatened to pull off an upset.

“It just shows, I guess, that anyone can step up. I think si Jim Corpuz played quality minutes also today and like I always tell them, you just have to be ready single every time doesn’t matter kung sino nasa bench and do whatever you can to help the team,” Racela added.

Tulabut led all scorers with 18 points and three rebounds, while Casinillo chipped in 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals to help the Altas secure the 86-74 victory.

With Perpetual Help potentially losing another key contributor in JD Pagulayan, who is set to receive a diagnosis for his injury on Tuesday, the importance of relying on one another has only grown.

For Racela, however, the foundation for that mentality was already laid during the offseason.

“I think the work we put in was done in the summer, and they realized when I told them that we shouldn’t be talking about those who are not here, that we should be focusing on the players that are right here.”

The post Pat Sleat’s departure forces Perpetual Help to find new answers appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.