CLINT Escamis quickly moved past his horror opener in the NCAA Season 101 which promptly brought terror Arellano's way.
Escamis fired 29 big points to lead the Mapua Cardinals past the tough and gritty Chiefs to eke out a 90-87 win on Saturday at the Playtime Filoil Center and stay unbeaten in Group A.
Unlike in their win over Lyceum, the Cardinals didn't need two overtime periods to survive the Chiefs this time, though it was nonetheless another tough game for the reigning, defending NCAA champions with Arellano throwing everything at them throughout the entire game.
But the Cardinals had Escamis on point this time, draining two three pointers late in the fourth quarter to keep the Chiefs at bay.
"Yun lang gusto ko talaga makabawi sa game na yun. I know my teammates my got my back, pero kailangan ko mag-perform ngayon, kailangan ko ma-lead yung team ko and make something for my team," Escamis said as he also added three assists and three steals to his name.
NSD Cardinals
Once more, the Cardinals trailed by double-digits, going down by 13 in the second period and was even down 51-40 late in the first half before making their rally which has become their signature so far in this season.
Behind Escamis, the Cardinals went on an 18-4 run to finally take control of the game for good.
"Never-say-die mentality lang," Escamis continued.
"We're used to being down big especially last game, may experience na kami doon, pinapakita namin yung heart of a champion na hindi talaga kami magpapatalo."
Still, Escamis had plenty of help especially when the defense started tightnening up on him at clutch time and it came from the same guy who drained the game winning free throw last Wednesday.
Cy Cuenco proved his clutch genes anew, draining a three-pointer with 1:07 remaining to give Mapua some breathing room, 87-82 - before making a key assist to Yam Concepcion which gave the Cardinals an 89-85 lead with 38 seconds remaining.
Cyrus Nitura then made a clutch stop in the end, blocking Yuan Camay's three-pointer in the final possession which would've sent the game into overtime.
Cuenco finished with 14 points off the bench while Cyril Gonzales added 12 points, three assists and two steals.
Seeing limited minutes in the opener with an injury, Nitura filled the stat sheet for Mapua as he finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal for the now 2-0 Cardinals.
Basti Valencia led the Chiefs with 13 points while Renzo Abiera scored all of his 12 points in the first half, though curiously he didn't see action in the second half. Joseph Hernal finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
T-Mc Ongotan finished with 10 points for coach Chico Manabat but was ejected early in the third quarter after getting his second technical foul. Also getting thrown out for the same infraction is Mapua's Marc Igliane also in the same quarter.
The scores:
MAPÚA 90 – Escamis 29, Cuenco 14, Gonzales 12, Nitura 10, Sapasap 9, Reyes 5, Concepcion 5, Lazarte 4, Recto 2, Gulapa 0, Igliane 0, Delos Reyes 0, Ryan 0
ARELLANO 87 – Valencia 13, Abiera 12, Hernal 11, Ongotan 10, Libang 10, Camay 8, Cabotaje 6, Borromeo 5, Vinoya 4, Geronimo 4, Demetria 4, Acop 0, Buenaventura 0, Miller 0
Quarters: 20-22, 46-51, 67-64, 90-87
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