Article by: Alexa Juliana E. Karaan, Lorrieza Jhoilyn C. Punzalan, Setheleh G. Ramos, and Sean Carlo O. Samonte
Graphics by: Albert Dylan D. David
Photo by: Juliana Enjielle O. Mauricio
Dominating the second round to settle unfinished business in last year’s finals, the Mapúa Cardinals secured a twice-to-beat advantage as the first seed in the final four with a commanding final 15-3 standing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Senior Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Cards logged a spotless 9-0 win-loss record in the second elimination round that ran from October 12 to November 16 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre and Cuneta Astrodome.
Entering the second round with renewed vigor, the Cards edged past the José Rizal University Bombers, 75-71, with Yam Concepcion leading the team to a confident start to the series as the matchup’s top scorer with a career-high 19-point performance at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on October 12. Moreover, Clint Escamis secured a crucial four-point lead with a layup in the final minute, sealing the match in favor of the cunning Cardinals.
Keeping their momentum to remain in the winning column, the red and gold squad continued its redemption march as the team clutched against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 82-79, on October 15. After sinking a three-point jump-shot from Cyrus Cuenco in the final 15 seconds of the game, the Cards jumped to the second spot in the series. Escamis took the Top Scorer title of the match with an impressive 23-point performance, with Cuenco backing the team up with 16 points of his own.
Determined to keep their streak going, the Intramuros-based squad went up against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights last October 18 in a tight match that closed the game, 86-78. The best player of the game, Chris Hubilla set a new career high after plotting a near-triple double performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Second-year veteran JC Recto marked his return to the season with 14 points for the Cards.
Reclaiming their rhythm from their first-round loss, the red and gold squad finally silenced the roars of the San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions, 58–55, last October 20, marking their first victory over SBU after three consecutive losses since the NCAA 99 Basketball Finals. Learning from their previous upsets, the Cards racked a staggering lead in the first half to hinder a potential comeback charge in the second. Rookie star Hubilla soared high to propel the team into victory, earning 17 points, nine rebounds, and two assists to his name. Moreover, his stellar performance in the game earned him NCAA Player of the Week (POW) honors, marking the first of the three-recognition awarded to the home team this centennial season.
Undefeated and armed with a four-game winning streak, the Cardinals triumphed over the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates, 69-68, to secure back-to-back revenge wins last October 29. Keeping the audience at their seats with a neck-and-neck battle, first-year phenom Lawrence Mangubat throws a shot from the rainbow country four seconds before the end of the game to seal another win for the red and gold squad. Tallying 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists, Mangubat dominated the game with his late-game heroics to secure Best Player of the Game (POG) and POW honors.
With an untarnished 5-0 standing in the second elimination round so far, the Intramuros-based team won by a landslide in its match against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas last November 6, 71–57. Third-year veteran Cuenco showed up with his prowess from the rainbow country with 21 points, built from six three-pointers, to lead the dominating victory. Following the game, the red and gold squad boosted to a 12–3 standing with their sixth straight triumph to secure a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the semifinals.
In an eagerly awaited showdown against the then frontrunner, the Cardinals successfully extinguished the flames of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers last November 10, forcing both teams to share the top spot in the standings. As the scores kept on teetering between teams, Escamis showed the crowd why he is the reigning MVP by landing a buzzer-beater three-pointer to finish the game, 75–72, ending any hope for the Taft-based squad to force an overtime. With his display of immense luck, talent, and determination, Escamis garnered 26 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal, earning him the POG award.
“It was beyond my reach [...] and thank God na binigay niya sa ‘kin ‘yung opportunity na ‘yon and I made it,” Escamis expressed in a post-game interview with NCAA Philippines. With the game-winning shot being a poetic highlight for his collegiate career as he could not score a rebound in the previous possessions, he added that the shot was not possible without the defense of his teammates. “Liwag [...] could’ve had that dunk, but na-intercept niya nang konti then na-intercept ko sa likod [...] and they couldn’t control me after that.”
Escamis’s historic Hail Mary play earned him POW honors, marking the third consecutive NCAA recognition for the Cardinals. The victory over CSB also marked the last stop for the home team’s revenge tour after successfully avenging all three of their Round 1 losses.
Aiming to maintain their top seed ranking, the Mapúa Cardinals thrashed the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, 95–79, extending their winning streak to eight last November 13. Paving the way for a solid 14–3 standing for the Intramuros-based team, Yam Concepcion delivered a stellar performance with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
After nine hard-fought battles, the Intramuros-based squad ended its Round 2 run on November 16 with a 75–69 thriller victory over the Arellano University Chiefs at the Cuneta Astrodome. An illustrious team effort secured the last win for the home team with Hubilla and Escamis pouring 12 points each. Outstanding all-around performance from the star of the game Cuenco, who scored 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds, led the charge against the Chiefs.
King Cardinal Escamis remains a prominent player as he maintains to be one of the top leaders across three categories. He is ranked fifth among leaders in scoring and asissts, with 15.44 points per game and 4.0 assists per game. On steals, he ranked third with 1.89 steals per game. His outstanding play on the court prompted him to clinch a POW award along with fellow court sensations Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat. The Cardinals were the only team to have three players picked out for the recognition.
The Mapúa Cardinals finished the second elimination round with a spotless record of nine wins and zero losses. After headlines of victories, the Intramuros squad not only secured a place in the final four but also emerged as the top contender with an overall score of 15–3. Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Cardinals are in a good position as they embark on the last stretch of their redemption tour to the championship title right along the university’s centennial year.
As the season starts to forecast its conclusion, the red and gold squad is now powering up for the upcoming semifinals against the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates tomorrow, November 23, at the Cuneta Astrodome. The match will be livestreamed on the official Facebook and YouTube pages of the NCAA Philippines and GMA Sports PH. Tickets are still being sold at The 1925 Shop (formerly the Mapúa Intramuros Bookstore) until today.
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