MAPUA drew first blood in the NCAA men’s basketball Finals, pulling off an 84-73 victory over College of Saint Benilde at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Reigning MVP Clint Escamis, coming off a career-best performance of 33 points against Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four, scored 30 in the series opener.

Escamis continued his stellar play, 22 of those coming in the first half to keep the momentum firmly on the Cardinals’ side.

“Yun nga, nung una nagtiwala sila sa akin nung first quarter, binibigyan talaga muna nila ako,” said Escamis.

Mapua hopes to secure its first championship since 1991 in Game 2 in Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Big Dome.

The Cardinals faced a stern challenge in the closing minutes, as the Blazers mounted a late comeback.

Escamis was forced to exit the game after a hard fall, leaving the rest of the Mapua roster to hold down the fort and secure the win.

With their ace guard sidelined, Mapua’s supporting cast stepped up. John Jabonete, who had been held scoreless through the first three quarters, came alive in the fourth, scoring eight critical points to stave off Benilde.

Rookie guard Lawrence Mangubat delivered the dagger, sinking a clutch corner jumper with 1:26 remaining to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 77-67.

JC Recto provided a crucial boost off the bench with 15 points while Chris Hubilla flirted with a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds, while Mangubat had eight points, four rebounds, and four assists for Mapua.

Allen Liwag led the charge for the Blazers with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in his Finals debut, while Gab Cometa added 13 points off the bench. Jhomel Ancheta chipped in 10 points, with Mark Sangco and Justine Sanchez contributing nine points apiece.

The scores:

Mapua (84) – Escamis 30, Recto 15, Hubilla 9, Mangubat 8, Jabonete 8, Cuenco 4, Concepcion 4, Bancale 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Abdulla 0.
Benilde (73) – Liwag 18, Cometa 13, Ancheta 10, Sangco 9, Sanchez 9, Ynot 7, Oli 3, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Morales 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 42-37, 57-48, 84-73

Game Saturday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. – Benilde vs Mapua

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado