Clint Escamis shook off a lackluster performance in his previous outing and delivered when it mattered most, steering the defending champion Mapua Cardinals to a nail-biting 90-87 victory over the Arellano Chiefs in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Escamis erupted for 29 points to spearhead the Cardinals’ second straight win in Group A, underscoring his leadership and championship mettle.
“Pinakita namin ‘yung never-say-die mentality at championship heart,” Escamis said, reflecting the grit and resilience that carried Mapua through the tense finish.
The Chiefs nearly forced an upset, pulling to within a single point, 87-88, in the closing seconds. But Marc Cuenco split his free throws with 16 ticks left, giving Mapua just enough breathing room at 89-87.
Arellano still had a chance to tie or even snatch the lead, but the Cardinals’ defense stood tall. Marc Nitura’s timely block and Yam Concepcion’s rebound off Yuan Camay’s missed three-pointer sealed the hard-fought win.
With the victory, the Cardinals solidified their early campaign for a back-to-back title while sending a stern reminder that their championship pedigree remains intact.
