The Mapua Cardinals celebrate winning the NCAA Season 100 Men’s Basketball Tournament by defeating the Benilde Blazers in two games. –Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net
Clint Escamis left the Smart Araneta Coliseum depressed after the Mapua Cardinals again missed out on a championship last season.
The King Cardinal stayed on the Big Dome floor much longer this time around, finally bringing home the crown in Saturday’s final game of the NCAA Season 100 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
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“This is a surreal moment. I just really wanted this. After 33 years, this is finally ours,” he said after the Cardinals’ 94-82 shutout of the St. Benilde Blazers. Escamis spoke after winning and ending more than 30 years of heartbreak and futility.
Although Escamis did not win the MVP award for the second consecutive season, he averaged 24 points, shot 51%, had 4 assists, and 4 steals in the two games in which the Cardinals defeated the Blazers, and was selected as the Finals MVP. It was done.
“Last year’s loss in the championship was… [against San Beda] It has been our motivation ever since. Well, yay, job done. The redemption tour is complete,” Escamis said after scoring 15 of his 18 points in an energetic first half that set the tone for the rout.
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top rookie
Marc Cuenco scored 19 points, mainly on long threes, and rookie Lawrence Mangubat scored 17 points by hitting four triples, including three in a row in the third inning. Chris Hubila, this season’s Rookie of the Year, contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds, and along with Marc Iriane did a great job of keeping MVP Allen Liwag from playing efficiently in the low block.
convulsions
“Our team is really hungry. After three tries, we finally got this. This is a gift from God. I can’t explain the joy,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara. said. He led the Cardinals to their first title in 33 seasons, or their first since leading Mapua as a player during the school’s 1991 championship.
The Blazers looked ready to turn the tide in the third quarter, cutting the lead to within 48-46 on Ian Torres’ corner 3.
But Iriane hit an unexpected 3 as the shot clock was winding down, and Dzeko Bankale made another triple of his own in the corner off an inbounds pass, saving his team from a Blazers comeback.
Escamis struggled with cramps for most of the second half, but Mangubat controlled Escamis with consecutive threes, and combined with Cuenco and Ubilla to suppress all of St. Benilde’s rallies.
Escamis briefly retreated, then sank a 3 with four minutes left to put the Blazers up by 16 points as the Mapua community and legions of fans began to celebrate wildly.
“Last year, I was watching them under the ring.” [San Beda Red Lions] Remove the net. This time we have to do it,” Escamis said.
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Justin Sanchez led the Blazers with a career-high 24 points, Mythical Team Award winner Tony Inot added 17 points, and Liwag finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, the same as last week’s Game 1 loss. As if my efforts were in vain. INQ
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