Despite numerous competitive iterations of Mapua University squads in the NCAA Seniors Basketball Tournament, the Cardinals have failed to secure the NCAA championship in three decades.
The Cardinals have come close multiple times during this period, even reaching the finals in Season 97 and giving a tough Colegio de San Juan de Letran team a scare. Nevertheless, the NCAA championship continues to elude them.
This year, the Cardinals have once again fielded a championship contender. Led by their star rookie Clint Escamis, three-level scorer Paolo Hernandez, and veteran big man Warren Bonifacio, the squad based in Intramuros has started the season 7-1 and has clinched the number one spot in the first-round standings.
After their 79-65 victory over Arellano University, head coach Randy Alcantara shared that he sees something different in the current Mapua squad, something he hadn’t seen since Mapua’s last championship.
Alcantara was notably one of the key players on Mapua’s 1991 championship squad that narrowly defeated San Beda University in three closely contested matches to claim the trophy. Now, serving as the coach of another championship contender, Alcantara compares his current squad to his fomer frontcourt partner, Benny Cheng.
“Maraming factor na nakikita ko honestly, yung time na yon konti lang yung malalaki, ang big man namin si Benny Cheng. Nung nagpba siya na sa 3 spot siya, imagine yung time na yon siya yung centro namin. Ngayon nakikita namin maliliit kami sa lineup sa NCAA, pero malaki yung puso namin,” said Alcantara.
In the dying moments of game three in the 1991 championship, Mapua trailed the Red Lions by a single point. When Rizaldy Ramos’ shot clanked against the rim, Cheng outrebounded multiple San Beda defenders and made the game-winning shot with five seconds left.
Alcantara continued, explaining that Cheng’s heart was the difference-maker, allowing him to anchor the paint despite his lack of size. That same heart now more than 30 years later is evident in his Season 99 Mapua squad.
“Na-witness ko yun eh kung gaano kalaki yung puso ni Benny Cheng nung 1991. Ngayon naman, lahat ng players na sa team namin ganoon. Kung talagang yung puso determined to win every game. Nakikita mo sa team ngayon yung malaking puso nila, kaya sana tuloy-tuloy na makuha namin yung goal namin na every day pinagtatrabaho,” beamed Alcantara.
This heart is not only displayed in the games but also, and most especially, in practice. Every member of his squad, from the starters to the third-string bench, gives their all behind the scenes to ensure they’re ready when the tip-off begins.
“Sa practice pa lang talagang mataas yung competition eh. Rineady talaga namin yan hanggang third group kahit sino gamitin ready. Yun ang maganda sa team, sabi ko nga, hindi lang sa score makikita pero pati sa effort nila sa defense, sa boxout, yung second chance points, makikita talaga yung result ng everyday ginagawa sa practice,” shared Alcantara, an MPBL champion coach.
For team captain Warren Bonifacio, the heart displayed on and off the court is driven by a desire to give back to the Mapua community in his final year, a community that has consistently shown unwavering support for every Cardinal that wears the red-and-gold, despite all the challenges and heartbreak.
“Gusto lang namin suklian and suporta na binibigay ng Mapua, and trust na binibigay ng coaches sa amin, gusto lang namin suklian lahat ng binibigay sa amin, yung binibigay na pag-aaral sa amin. Yun lang naman talaga gusto naming gawin yung manalo, yun lang ang talagang goal namin, pinagtrabuhan namin as a team. And yun, kudos din sa mga teammates ko, lahat pati third group talagang mataas ang competition sa training,” shared the graduating big man.
The Cardinals are still far from achieving their championship aspirations as another round awaits them after their matchup against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Saturday.
However, Alcantara can rest assured that every member of his squad is determined to finally bring the NCAA championship back to their side of Intramuros after 32 years.
