By: Miguel Caramoan
After a string of quiet outings, Clint Escamis rediscovered his scoring touch and led Mapua University to an 85-78 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College, halting the Cardinals’ three-game skid in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Tuesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Season 100 Finals MVP came through with an all-around performance, tallying 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Cyril Gonzales, the team’s top scorer in seven games, added 14 points off the bench, while Yam Concepcion contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
“Para sa akin, I think everything has a purpose. Kailangan talaga namin pagdaanan ‘yung three-game losing streak and I feel like maganda yung kinalabasan. We had a talk and lahat ginawa na namin, we settled things sa team chemistry namin and ayun nagbunga ngayon,” said Escamis, reflecting on how the Cardinals bounced back.
Mapua got off to a strong start, surging ahead 13-7 early in the first quarter behind JC Recto’s scoring. However, EAC responded with Aldeo Lucero’s seven points and Brianne Angeles’ two triples to take a 23-21 lead after the opening frame.
Escamis then found his groove in the second quarter, erupting for nine of his 11 first-half points to spark a 27-point outburst for Mapua and a 48-44 halftime advantage.
The third quarter turned into a shootout, with Jude Bagay scoring all 12 of his points for EAC in the period. But the trio of Escamis, Gonzales, and Earl Sapasap countered every Generals run, allowing the Cardinals to stretch their lead to 69-63 heading into the final frame.
The game remained close until the closing minutes when Gonzales calmly sank two free throws to put Mapua up 81-70 with 3:22 left. Concepcion then sealed the win with a fast-break layup, extending the margin to 83-74 at the 1:22 mark.
“Kailangan pa rin talaga umiskor si Clint and syempre iba pa rin yung leadership niya sa loob and pag-facilitate niya. So malaking kumpiyansa yon and yung mga Robin namin na role players – napag-usapan na hindi naman lagi na puro [Clint] Escamis or [Cyrus] Cuenco,” said Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara, praising his team’s balanced attack.
“Siyempre yung mga nadagdag sa amin talagang mas kailangan tumulong, especially sa gantong sitwasyon. Maswerte pa tayo na ganto ang nangyayari at nakakapag-adjust pa tayo and sana ma-work out pa natin yung kulang sa team,” he added.
With the win, Mapua improved to 4-4 to secure the second spot in Group A—one full game ahead of the Arellano Chiefs.
“Syempre kahit anong gawin natin, nasa labas lang tayo. Sila mismo yung willing i-give up yung bola and sana tuloy-tuloy na mas hinahanap nila yung better shot. Plus tinrabaho namin yung three-points kasi 0-for-19 kami last game sa JRU. Luckily, naka-anim kami today,” Alcantara said, noting the Cardinals’ improved shooting.
Mapua will wrap up its crossover play with a Finals rematch against the Benilde Blazers on November 4 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
EAC, on the other hand, dropped to 4-5, falling to the bottom of Group B at the end of its crossover schedule. Three Generals scored in double figures—Angeles with 13 points, Lucero with 11, and EJ Castillo with 10—but the team sorely missed top scorer Wilmar Oftana, who sat out due to an allergy attack.
The Generals will resume Group B action on November 9 against the Benilde Blazers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
Mapua 85 – Escamis 20, Gonzales 14, Concepcion 13, Recto 11, Sapasap 10, Igliane 6, Cuenco 5, Callangan 2, Nitura 2, Delos Reyes 2, Ryan 0, Lazarte 0
Emilio Aguinaldo 78 – Angeles 13, Bagay 12, Lucero 11, Castillo 10, Quinal 5, Doria 5, Shanoda 4, Postales 4, Tolentino 4, Omandac 3, Bacud 3, Loristo 2, Villarente 2, Ochavo 0, Dominguez 0
Quarterscores: 21-23, 48-44, 69-63, 85-78
