MANILA, Philippines – Clint Escamis played like it was his last game.
And the reigning MVP delivered his finest offensive performance to send Mapua to the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball finals after an 89-79 win over Lyceum at the Cuneta Astrodome on Saturday, November 23.
Escamis fired a career-high 33 points on 10-of-19 shooting as the top seed Cardinals, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, earned another crack at the title after settling for a runner-up finish last season.
“I did not think that we were twice-to-beat. Coach told us to think of this as a do-or-die game, to give it our all,” said Escamis, who also finished with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Escamis poured 8 points in the final period, including a three-pointer that pushed the Mapua lead to 79-69 with 4:50 minutes remaining.
Although the Pirates remained within striking distance after a 6-0 run led by JM Bravo and John Barba that cut their deficit to 75-79, they shot themselves in the foot with six straight missed free throws inside the final three minutes.
Escamis, Yam Concepcion, and Chris Hubilla then drained crucial foul shots to seal the Cardinals’ 10th straight victory as they sustained their winning form after sweeping the second round.
Hubilla backstopped Escamis with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, while John Recto chimed in 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Concepcion scattered 6 of his 7 points in the final quarter.
Mapua will face either defending champion San Beda or second seed St. Benilde in the best-of-three finals that kicks off on December 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Bravo paced Lyceum with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, but he failed to finish the game as he suffered from cramps with 1:20 minutes left and the Pirates trailing 75-81.
Erratic free throw shooting doomed Lyceum, which made just 19 of its 37 foul shots for a paltry 51.4% clip.
Despite their free throw woes, the Pirates managed to claw their way back into the game after a sizzling start by Escamis paved the way for the Cardinals to lead by as many as 15 points.
Escamis erupted for 18 points in the opening period to help Mapua mount a 29-21 lead, which grew to its biggest at 45-30.
But Lyceum slowly chipped away at its deficit and even seized the upper hand, grabbing a 67-63 lead at the start of the fourth frame.
The Pirates, however, ran out of steam and allowed the Cardinals to go on a tide-turning 13-2 run.
Barba tallied 14 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort.
Mapua 89 – Escamis 33, Hubilla 17, Recto 10, Mangubat 7, Concepcion 7, Cuenco 6, Igliane 4, Bancale 4, Jabonete 1, Ryan 0, Garcia 0.
Lyceum 79 – Bravo 20, Barba 14, Vilegas 12, Guadaña 12, Daileg 6, Versoza 6, Moralejo 3, Cunanan 2, Montaño 2, Peñafiel 2, Aviles 0.
Quarters: 29-21, 55-46, 63-65, 89-79.
– Rappler.com
