TOP-RANKED Mapua survived a third quarter meltdown before pulling off an 89-79 win over gutsy Lyceum of the Philippines University to make a return trip to the NCAA men’s basketball Finals yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Reigning MVP Escamis is looking forward to completing unfinished business from last season’s championship heartbreak for the Cardinals.

Titleless since 1991, Mapua squandered a 1-0 series lead in the finals by losing two in a row to San Beda last season.

“For sure, yung maturity of how to handle the pressure in the finals, yun ang mai-instill ko sa akin at pati na sa mga teammates ko,” said Escamis.

“Each year that passes, patagal nang patagal. Pero hopefully, (after) 33 (years), we’ll get the job (done).”

The 24-year-old Escamis finished with 33 points built around five triples that went along with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Chris Hubilla added 17 points and eight rebounds for Mapua.

College of Saint Benilde is also seeking redemption, reaching to the league’s biggest stage after missing the bus last season.

The No. 2 Blazers utilized the twice-to-beat protection to the hilt with a 79-63 dethroning of the third-ranked Red Lions to forge a best-of-three titular duel with the Cardinals in the other half of the Final Four.

Benilde, which lost to Letran in the championship in late December 2022, was eliminated last season in the semifinals and is hoping to end its own 24-year title drought.

The Cardinals-Blazers Finals opener is at 2 p.m. on December 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

JM Bravo’s double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds led the fourth-ranked Lyceum, while Ato Barba submitted 14 points and Renz Villegas and Mac Guadaña got 12 points each for the Pirates.

LPU will have another shot of securing a hardware after it failed to reach the podium last year in a third place game against San Beda.

The scores:

First game

Mapua (89) – Escamis 33, Hubilla 17, Recto 10, Mangubat 7, Concepcion 7, Cuenco 6, Igliane 4, Bancale 4, Jabonete 1, Ryan 0, Garcia 0.
LPU (79) – Bravo 20, Barba 14, Vilegas 12, Guadaña 12, Daileg 6, Versoza 6, Moralejo 3, Cunanan 2, Montaño 2, Peñafiel 2, Aviles 0.
Quarterscores: 29-21; 55-46; 63-65; 89-79

Second game

Benilde (79) – Liwag 20, Ynot 17, Ancheta 11, Sanchez 9, Cometa 5, Turco 4, Sangco 3, Oli 3, Eusebio 2, Ondoa 2, Cajucom 0, Morales 0, Serrano 0, Jarque 0.
San Beda (63) – Royo 14, Estacio 10, Andrada 7, Sajonia 6, RC Calimag 6, Bonzalida 5, Lina 4, Payosing 4, Tagle 3, Gonzales 2, Songcuya 2, Celzo 0, Tagala 0, Jalbuena 0, Ri. Calimag 0.
Quarterscores: 25-14; 53-27; 70-42; 79-63

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado