Clint Escamis was an unstoppable force as he carried Mapua University to an 84-73 win against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 100 finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning MVP caught fire early by dropping 22 points at the half on the way to finishing with 30 points, just three markers away from shattering his career-high output. Escamis also collected four assists and five steals to fuel the Game 1 win.
"Hopefully matapos na nga sa Game 2 pero for sure pag-aaralan nila kami for Game 2 so 'yung plano namin is maging aggressive pa rin kami," Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara told GMA News Online.
"Sana maging composed pa kami at focus sa goal. Pressure talaga eh kasi 'pag nagpabaya kami matatalo kami."
Escamis picked up where he left from their Final Four victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University last Saturday where he came out with a career-best of 33 points as he helped Mapua establish an early lead before they carried a 42-37 halftime cushion.
The Blazers, however, fought back and even came within one after a Mark Sangco basket early in the third, 44-43.
The Cardinals never allowed Benilde to take any kind of momentum with Andrei Igliane, Chris Hubilla, Jeco Bancale, and JC Recto all contributing to a 13-5 run to close the frame and take a 57-48 lead.
Mapua big men then took advantage of error-prone Benilde with John Jabonete completing a three-point play before the unlikely hero in Recto soared for a triple for a 67-57 spread.
Jabonete would then knock down another three-pointer then split the defense of Benilde for another layup to complete his eight-point outburst in the fourth quarter and more importantly, give Mapua a comfortable 74-61 advantage.
Recto chipped in 15 points while Hubilla added nine markers, nine rebounds, and two steals. Lawrence Mangubat and Jabonete both finished with eight points to help in the balanced offense of Mapua.
Allen Liwag, stepping into his first finals stint in college, tallied a double-double effort of 18 points and 14 rebounds alongside three blocks and two steals while Gab Cometa and Jhomel Ancheta added 13 and 10 markers a apiece.
Both teams return to the same venue on December 7 with Mapua eyeing to close out the series and Benilde looking to extend it.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
