LIVE UPDATES: Mapua vs Benilde – NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball finals, Game 2
MANILA, Philippines – Can Mapua finally end its 33-year title drought?
After drawing first blood against College of St. Benilde, Mapua looks to clinch its first NCAA crown since 1991 when both teams face off in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals in the Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, December 7.
Led by a masterful performance by Mapua star Clint Escamis, the Cardinals scored a pivotal 84-73 win against the Blazers in their series opener last Sunday, December 1, to inch closer to the elusive title.
Escamis showed why he’s the league’s reigning MVP as he went off for a game-high 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting, 4 assists, and 5 steals, including a huge 17-point first-quarter explosion.
With Mapua just one win away from the championship, expect Escamis and the rest of the Cardinals – who are riding on an 11-game winning streak – to play like there’s no tomorrow as they hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s finals.
Last season, the Cardinals were in a similar position, where they held a 1-0 finals lead against the San Beda Red Lions, before dropping the next two games to settle for a runner-up finish.
“I’ve learned a lot since last year. You don’t win a championship in Game 1,” said Escamis.
“Job’s not finished,” he added.
As Mapua tries to avoid a rubber match, CSB, on the other hand, hopes to do everything in its power to live another day and force a do-or-die Game 3.
Aside from allowing Escamis to go off for 30 points in Game 1, the Blazers also committed 23 turnovers, translating to 34 points off turnovers for the Cardinals.
But after a week of preparation, Mapua should brace for a more composed CSB squad in Game 2.
The Cardinals should also prepare for another monster outing by Blazers big man Allen Liwag, who is bound to win the Season 100 MVP award prior to this Game 2 showdown.
Liwag carried the fight for CSB in Game 1 with his usual double-double numbers of 18 points on a healthy 8-of-11 shooting and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Game time is 2:30 pm. – Rappler.com