Mapua and College of St. Benilde, both eyeing their first seniors basketball championships in decades, will try to end their long wait as the two collide today at the start of their best-of-three title showdown in NCAA Season 100 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Game One is set at 2 p.m. with the Cardinals seeking to claim their first crown since last winning it 33 years ago and the Blazers eyeing their second title since snaring their breakthrough championship 24 seasons back.
Game Two is scheduled Saturday while a deciding Game Three, if necessary is on Dec. 14, all at the Big Dome.
Mapua is expected to ride the crest of a red-hot 10-game winning streak that included a nine-game second round sweep.
It then trounced Lyceum of the Philippines University, 89-79, in the Final Four last Oct. 23 to punch its way to a third finals appearance in the last four years and earn an opportunity that would not only end an excruciatingly long drought but also seal it a sixth title overall.
Reigning MVP Clint Escamis is expected to be the focal point of the Cardinals’ attack that was accentuated by a masterful 33-point performance in that all-important Final Four triumph.
“I just want to help the team win a championship,” said Escamis.
And that is why CSB, which made the cut after dethroning San Beda with a 79-63 rout in the semis, will try to move heaven and earth in neutralizing the mercurial Escamis.
“Need to find a way to defend the Escamis in the game,” said CSB mentor Charles Tiu.
For Mapua, its defensive focal point is on bull-strong Allen Liwag.
“Mas maliit kami sa loob kesa sa kanila. Pero ang magagawa lang namin is stand our ground and help each other na malimitahan siya,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara referring to Liwag, who is tipped to win the MVP award this season.
Game today/Sunday
(Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m.- Mapua vs CSB
