MANILA, Philippines – Randy Alcantara earned his place in Mapua lore by winning NCAA championships with the Cardinals both as a player and a coach.
With Alcantara calling the shots, Mapua ended a decades-long drought after completing its sweep of St. Benilde in the best-of-three Season 100 finals with a 94-82 win on Saturday, December 7.
It was the Cardinals’ first title since 1991, back when Alcantara was still a player as Mapua — then mentored by Joel Banal — accomplished a two-peat by outlasting San Beda in Season 67.
While it has been a long time coming for the Intramuros school, Alcantara did not think he would be at the helm to lead the Cardinals to their sixth championship after he underwent a cervical spine surgery earlier this year.
“I thought I would never return to coaching because of my operation. But it as it turned out, I still had a purpose, we still had an unfinished business, which was to bring the crown back to Mapua after 33 years,” said Alcantara.
“I’ll never forget this.”
And there to celebrate with Alcantara were his former teammates, including Benny Cheng, the hero of that 1991 run as he hit the winning putback in the do-or-die Game 3, allowing the Cardinals to escape with a 91-90 victory.
Cheng said this current Mapua crew possessed the same grit and tenacity of his old Cardinals, with team overcoming a talented Blazers side led by Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year Allen Liwag.
“They helped each other. They were underdogs, but they played hard. This year, they gave their best,” said Cheng, who torched the Red Lions with a team-high 26 points in the title clincher.
“Our motto was, ‘Offense wins game, defense wins championships.’ They played defense and that was why they won this game. Even though the opponents were taller, they maintained their composure.”
Mapua got the job done after finals heartbreaks in Season 97, where it got swept by Letran, and in Season 99, where it squandered a 1-0 lead against San Beda.
Out for redemption, the Cardinals ended Season 100 on a 12-game winning streak, going unbeaten in the second round, making quick work of Lyceum in the semifinals, then disposing of St. Benilde with a pair of double-digit wins.
For Chito Victolero, a reserve during the 1991 season who went on to coach Mapua from 2009 to 2012, the Cardinals’ success is hinged on the mentorship of Alcantara.
Before taking on the coaching reins for the seniors squad, Alcantara steered the Mapua Red Robins to two titles in the junior ranks, where he developed Cardinals ace Clint Escamis into the star he is today.
“He works hard every season,” said Victolero of Alcantara. “Where are you going to see three finals appearances in four seasons plus one championship? It is a testament to his hard work, a testament to the system.”
“They deserve the championship.”
As Alcantara basked in the Cardinals’ triumph, a fitting gift to the school celebrating its 100th year in January, he looked back on the wise words of his old mentor in Banal.
“He told us again and again that winning a championship is difficult as much as it is satisfying,” said Alcantara. – Rappler.com
