MANILA – Mapua University Cardinals rode on the hot hands of Clint Escamis to defeat College of St. Benilde Blazers, 84-73, in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament Finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning NCAA MVP finished with 30 points to go with five steals and four assists as the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
JC Recto added 15 markers off the bench, while rookie Chris Hubilla had a near double-double of nine points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals.
Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara stated that, while he is delighted to take the series opener win, he wants his players to finish the job done this season.
“Kung ano ‘yung preparation namin nung elimination, dinoble pa namin at ‘yung details nakuha namin during filming,” Alcantara said in a post-game interview.
“Kaming mga coaches [titignan namin] kung saan kami nagkulang last year na one win away na lang kami then sana ma-correct namin,” he added.
Allen Liwag finished with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Gab Cometa and Jhomel Ancheta added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Blazers.
The Cardinals can secure their first NCAA championship since 1991 in Game 2 of the series is on Saturday afternoon at the same venue./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAPUA 84 — Escamis 30, Recto 15, Hubilla 9, Mangubat 8, Jabonete 8, Cuenco 4, Concepcion 4, Bancale 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Abdulla 0.
CSB 73 — Liwag 18, Cometa 13, Ancheta 10, Sangco 9, Sanchez 9, Ynot 7, Oli 3, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Morales 0.
Quarterscores 26-20, 42-37, 57-48, 84-73.
