By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Once again, the NCAA men’s basketball trophy was within reach of the Mapua Cardinals after drawing the first blood against the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 84-73, in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis was a force to reckon with, carrying the cudgels for the Cardinals throughout by unleashing 30 points while also dishing out five steals and four assists.
The victory not only extended Mapua’s winning streak to 11 games, but also moved them a victory away from claiming its first title in 33 years.
Game 2 is set next Saturday, Dec. 7, at the same venue.
Still, Mapua was not resting its laurels this early. After all, they were in the same situation as last year, where they claimed Game 1, only to lose the next two games and the crown to the San Beda Red Lions.
“Siyempre, masarap sa pakiramdam na manalo kami sa Game 1, but the job is not yet finished,” said Escamis.
“Natuto na kami from last year. Our coaches just said to be composed and tulungan lang pataasin ang kumpiyansa ng rookies namin,” he added.
For now, this victory would have to do as it would further boost the Cardinals’ resolve to finally avenge last year’s heartbreak and end decades-old championship spells.
The Cardinals immediately dictated the tempo of the match, waxing hot early with a 26-20 first-quarter lead and maintaining it to 42-37 at the half.
St. Benilde tried to extinguish Mapua’s offensive fire, but Escamis joined forces with John Recto and Chris Hubilla in slowly pulling away, trying to rip the game wide open with a 62-48 advantage and never looked back.
Recto came off the bench and unloaded 15 points in 18 minutes of action, while Hubilla chipped in nine points and nine assists
Allen Liwag had a double-double performance of 18 points and 14 rebounds, even as Gab Cometa and Jhomel Ancheta added 13 and 10 points, respectively, but their efforts for St. Benilde went futile.
It didn’t help that the Blazers stumbled into 23 turnovers — 11 coming from the first half — that allowed the Cardinals to score 34 points.
Mapua also banked on 20 fastbreak points.
