By: Bjorn Del Deade
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis has been the leader of the Mapua Cardinals throughout the eliminations.
He led Mapua once again, scoring a career-high 33 points against LPU in the Final Four, helping to clinch the Cardinals’ return to the finals.
With the NCAA title in mind, Escamis said he is entering the finals with more maturity, drawing from the experiences he gained from Mapua’s loss in the finals against San Beda in Season 99.
“Iba yung pressure syempre first time ko last year,” Escamis, a former UE Red Warriors said.
“Syempre ngayon alam ko na yung mga nangyayari, yung mga kailangan ishut off ko na yung mga outside noise for sure yung maturity na how to handle the pressure of the Finals.”
He added that he wants to instill the same maturity in his fellow Cardinals.
“Kahit medyo veteran na ako, iba pa rin yung finals eh, yun mai-instill ko sakin pati sa mga teammates ko, maturity,” the 24-year-old floor general said.
Mapua ended the season with the league’s best record of 15-3, earning a twice-to-beat advantage against LPU in the Final Four.
For Escamis, Mapua’s past experience in the finals against Benilde has made the Cardinals, who fielded a younger roster this season, even hungrier for redemption.
“Feel ko yung hustle namin and actually yung maturity sa game kasi madami kaming mga young guns and hindi kami nagpapanic. We keep our composure,” he said.
“Dami na din kaming pinagdaanan in the past, especially yung Benilde, learned from that so much gusto namin ngayon hopefully kahit sa Finals kung sino man makalaban.”
Their Final Four win against the Pirates was just the start. Whoever their next opponent is in the finals—San Beda or Benilde—the Mapua Cardinals are ready, but they will remain grounded in humility.
“I feel like syempre yung blessing namin yun yung nagpapa-humble samin kahit na panalo kami. Alam namin sa back of our mind namin na di kami malakas, di kami ganon,” Escamis said.
“Yung team chemistry, yung hustle, and yung desire to win talaga so next game, sino man manalo, mas harder din kami sa practice and pag-scout ng mga teams.”
