Clint Escamis and Mapua University drew first blood in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament Finals, dropping 30 points to lead his the Cardinals to an 84-73 victory over the College of Saint Benilde Blazers on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The NCAA Season 99 MVP is coming off a career-best performance, dropping 33 points against Lyceum of the Philippines University while dominating throughout the postseason.
In the semifinals, Clint Escamis continued his stellar play, delivering 30 points against Benilde, with 22 of those coming in the first half to keep the momentum firmly on the Cardinals’ side.
“Yun nga, nung una nagtiwala sila sa akin nung first quarter, binibigyan talaga muna nila ako,” said the former UE Red Warrior, acknowledging the trust his teammates placed in him early in the game.
Game Two of the Finals is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, where Mapua will aim to clinch the title, while Benilde fights to force a winner-takes-all Game 3.
However, in the closing minutes, the Cardinals faced a stern challenge as the Blazers mounted a late comeback. Escamis was forced to exit the game after a hard fall, leaving the rest of the Mapua roster to hold down the fort and secure the win.
With their ace guard sidelined, Mapua’s supporting cast stepped up. John Jabonete, who had been held scoreless through the first three quarters, came alive in the fourth, scoring eight critical points to stave off the Green and White.
As the clock wound down, rookie guard Lawrence Mangubat delivered the dagger, sinking a clutch corner jumper with 1:26 remaining to extend Mapua’s lead to 77-67, effectively sealing the victory.
In addition to Escamis’ heroics, JC Recto provided a crucial boost off the bench with 15 points. Chris Hubilla flirted with a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds, while Mangubat showcased his versatility with eight points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The matchup between the top two seeds did not disappoint, continuing a season-long rivalry that had fans on the edge of their seats. The two teams split their meetings in the elimination round, with Benilde claiming the opener, 78-65, and Mapua responding in the second round with a thrilling 75-73 victory capped by an Escamis game-winning triple.
With this win, the Cardinals are now just one game away from ending a 33-year title drought. Mapua last won the NCAA championship in 1991, defeating San Beda College in a dramatic 91-90 finish.
Allen Liwag led the charge with an impressive double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Gab Cometa added 13 points off the bench.
Jhomel Ancheta chipped in 10 points, with Mark Sangco and Justine Sanchez contributing nine points apiece.
The Scores:
Mapua 84 – Escamis 30, Recto 15, Hubilla 9, Mangubat 8, Jabonete 8, Cuenco 4, Concepcion 4, Bancale 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Abdulla 0
Saint Benilde 73 – Liwag 18, Cometa 13, Ancheta 10, Sangco 9, Sanchez 9, Ynot 7, Oli 3, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Morales 0
Quarterscores: 26-20, 42-37, 57-48, 84-73
