The Mapua Cardinals staged a miraculous comeback, erasing a 20-point deficit to defeat the heavily favored College of St. Benilde, 75-73, in a thrilling NCAA Season 100 encounter at the Filoil EcoOil Arena on Sunday.
The hero of the game was Clint Escamis, who delivered a clutch three-pointer at the bizzer to seal the victory.
With the score tied at 72, Escamis stole the ball from Allen Liwag and raced down the court in the last four seconds, launching a shot that swished through the net, sending the Mapua bench and crowd into a frenzy.
It was all pandemonium from there as Escamis ran all over the court and screamed jubilantly as the Cardinals celebrated as if they won a championship that they longed desired.
“Biggest shot of my career so far,” said the reigning MVP moments after his spectacular performance.
The victory catapulted Mapua to a 13-3 record, tying them with St. Benilde for the top spot.
That dagger of a shot capped what has been an electric effort for Escamis, who finished with 26 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal that pushed Mapua closer from claiming a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
To clinch it, Mapua would need to at least win one of its last two remaining elimination round assignments against eliminated San Sebastian College Wednesday at the same San Juan venue and Arellano U Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Mapua coach Randy Alcantara later said there was Divine intervention.
“Si God na ‘yun,” he said.
The Blazers appeared to have the game under control when it built a 54-34 lead—its biggest in the game—late in the second canto.
And then Escamis went possessed as he erupted for 10 points in the third period where the Cardinals outgunned the Blazers, 21-9, to cut their double-digit deficit to just 63-60 entering the final period.
CSB held the fort and kept its slim lead until that fateful final four seconds when Escamis delivered the coup de grace.
