BY ABBY TORALBA
MAPUA University squandered its chance to finish off San Beda University and end a 32-year title drought last Sunday.
Don’t expect the Cardinals to waste another opportunity anew in the winner-take-all Game 3 of their best-of-3 duel for the 99th NCAA basketball tournament crown.
“All out talaga. There’s no tomorrow na, kanina sinasabi namin na ito na iyong do-or-die game namin pero buti may one life pa kami, kumbaga,” newly-minted MVP Clint Escamis said. “All out na, all-out war, magpapakamatay na talaga para sa bola.
“Of course, (we want the same energy from them in Game 2). Knowing the history of Mapua, ngayon lang din lang din dumating and ito na iyong chance namin,” he added.
On the day Escamis was hailed as the league’s best, Mapua dropped a 65-71 loss to the Red Lions.
The deciding match for the cage wars’ all the marbles is set on Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 5-foot-11 Escamis only shot 4-of-21 from the field, admitting it wasn’t his best performance due to San Beda’s stifling defense.
“More of pinaghandaan talaga nila iyong defense sa akin so nag-facilitate na ako kasi nagco-collapse sa akin iyong defense ng big man nila,” Escamis said.
“When I get my shots itinitira ko naman pero sadyang medyo off talaga ako.”
Escamis, who also bagged the Rookie of the Year plum and was also named to the Mythical Five and All-Defensive Team, pointed out their lapses on missing three-pointers during the game but reiterated that the Cardinals will show up with their best effort in the win-or-go home tiff.
“Siguro lapses din naming iyon na more on three-pointers ang tinake namin so big factor din iyon kung bakit kami natalo sa Game 2 and we’ll study it sa film and mag-a-adjust kami,” Escamis said.
Winning the MVP hardware will not affect Escamis in the knockout game.
“Wala naman. It’s just a Game 2 pa sa akin and alam ko naman na darating iyong award.
Sa post-season naman nasabihan na ako na makukuha ko iyong award so it’s nothing new to me,” he said.
