Before chasing his professional hoops dreams — wherever that may be — Clint Escamis is out to pursue a diploma and another NCAA title first.
The well-rounded senior guard said he opted to skip this year's PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft to focus on his studies and Mapua University's rare title defense in the upcoming NCAA Season 101.
"Siyempre, college isn't forever. Gusto ko lang talaga i-savor ‘yung one final year ko [sa Mapua] and academics din," Escamis told GMA News Online on Friday.
"Importante sa akin ‘yun (finishing studies), na hindi lang ako puro basketball and fallback ko din ['yun] kasi you’ll never know what will happen. At least kasi hindi makukuha ‘yung degree mo sa’yo."
(Of course, college isn't forever. I really want to savor my final year and focus on my studies. It is important to finish my studies and it's not all about basketball because it is also a fallback, you'll never know what will happen. At least that degree won't be taken away from you.)
Unknown to many, Escamis is an Industrial Engineering student and is on track to earn his diploma if he completes all requirements by next year.
His course isn’t exactly unfamiliar either, with both of his older brothers having taken the same path at Mapua and graduating with Mechanical and Industrial Engineering degrees.
Now, he hopes to follow suit and bring pride to his family.
"Ang sarap pakinggan if may engineer sa pangalan mo, ‘di ba. ‘Yun ‘yung mga gusto ko sa buhay," Escamis, the Season 99 MVP, added.
"Gusto ko rin makatapos kasi ‘yung mom ko, gusto rin na maka-graduate ako and I think staying for one more year helps me accomplish that. Ayun ‘yung gusto ko, na makatapos kasi ‘yung pros will be there and hindi mo na mababalikan ‘yung college eh."
(I want to finish my studies also because my mom wants me, too, and I think staying for one more year helps me accomplish that. I want to graduate because the pros will be there, but I can't always go back to college.)
Of course, before closing the chapter on his collegiate journey, Escamis wants nothing more than to be a champion again.
The Cardinals are gunning for a title repeat, but with a slightly different cast following the departure of rising stars Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat and the graduation of veterans Joaqui Garcia and Aaron Fermin, all of whom were part of their Season 100 title run.
Mapua will parade another batch of promising recruits in rookie Icee Callangan and transferees Cyril Gonzales and Cyrus Nitura as they look to retain the title in Intramuros.
"Ini-instill namin ‘yung selflessness..hindi man kami maging best player or nasa second five, okay lang ‘yun sa amin kasi inuuna na namin ngayon is ‘yung team, which is ‘yun ‘yung mas maganda," Escamis said.
"Ayun ‘yung difference ngayon sa amin."
(We are instilling selflessness. We may not be the best player or the second unit, and it's fine because we are putting the team first. That's our difference now.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
