Cardinals praying for title
MANILA, Philippines — When Mapua coach Randy Alcantara politely begged off from the customary post-game interview following his team’s 68-63 victory over San Beda in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 99 finale due to hypertension, he was already feeling the enormity of the situation.
He was facing destiny.
And that is what the soft-spoken Alcantara and his magnificent Mapua Cardinals will shoot for as they go for the coup de grace and sweep the young and hungry Lions in Game 2 today at the MOA Arena.
Mapua, however, should also expect the best from San Beda as it seeks its first NCAA crown in 32 years when Alcantara was still playing for the Cardinals.
“Kailangan maging ready lang kami,” said Mapua captain Warren Bonifacio, speaking in behalf of Alcantara.
Truly, preparation is the key.
In the opener, the Cardinals threw the defensive blanket on Jacob Cortez, who was held scoreless in the first half before whipping up a 12-point barrage in the final half that proved to be futile in the end against the former’s marauding defense.
They also held the Lions’ once hawk-eyed shooters to a measly five-of-32 clip from beyond the arc after averaging 13 treys in the latter’s sock two-game Final Four upset over the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates.
Mapua will try to do the same in Game 2.
Apart from its rock solid defense, it would also need another stellar effort from Clint Escamis, who unloaded an 18-point effort that he laced with a three-pointer and a pair of foul shots that helped seal the Game One deal.
Escamis should also come into the duel motivated especially since he will receive his Rookie and MVP trophies for a season-long magnificence.
The feat makes Escamis the first Mapua player to claim both plums since Nigerian Allwell Oraeme achieved such accomplishments eight years ago.
Escamis stressed it won’t matter if they don’t win what they ultimately strived for – the championship.
San Beda, for its part, is bent on bouncing back big and send the series to a no-tomorrow Game 2 next Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lions are seeking their first crown since reigning supreme five years ago.
