THE Mapua Cardinals are keeping their fingers crossed that they will make it back to the finals of the 100th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament, which fires off this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Coach Randy Alcantara, just like most of the coaches in the coming cagefest, has this wish.
“San Beda pa rin. Nu’ng time ko as a player, kami ang nag-champion. Nu’ng time ko as senior coach, nakadale din sila. Sana makabawi kami,” said Alcantara, less than a year after they fought and lost the season 99 crown to the Red Lions.
This time, the Cardinals will have to do it without players Warren Bonifacio, Paolo Hernandez, Toby Agustin and Peter Rosilio –veterans who graduated after last year’s season ended.
Their holdovers Clint Escamis, JC Recto and Cyrus Cuenco are expected to step up to guide the team, with the help of new players like Joaquin Garcia, Aaron Fermin, John Jabonete, Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat.
The Cardinals have been finalists in two of the last three seasons — and both ended with heartbreaks.
But there are high hopes on the game of Cuenco, who posted averages of 9.74 points, 3.89 rebounds, 2.16 assists in 13 games in the elimination round.
The Cardinals will also have Hubilla making his debut at the collegiate level.
Hubilla made an impression with the San Beda University Red Cubs in the NCAA Season 98 juniors’ basketball tournament and was part of the Mythical Team with averages of 18.11 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.44 assists, and 1.22 steals at the end of the elimination round.
