BY LEE BENJAMIN
MAPUA University has an NCAA Most Valuable Player-Rookie of the Year again, eight years after Nigerian Allwell Oraeme hoisted twin trophies.
Do-it-all guard Clint Escamis was officially hailed as Season's 99 best player and rookie Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena after pacing the statistical race throughout the tournament. He normed a league-best 16.3 points and 3.8 steals to go with 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists, all while piloting the Cardinals' flight to their first-ever top seed with a 15-3 eliminations record.
ESCAMIS PLAYED FOR RED ROBINS
The 5-foot-11 playmaker is a homegrown talent for Mapua, having been a key contributor in the Red Robins' two titles in three years back in 2016-18. He committed to the University of the East for college and flashed brilliance with averages of 7.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals, but decided to come home to Intramuros after the Red Warriors trudged through a winless Season 84.
With their prodigal son's return, the Cardinals are one win away from their first championship since the Benny Cheng years in the early '90s.
Escamis and the rest of the Cardinals will slug it out with San Beda University in a week's time come Game Three of the Season 99 men's basketball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
CALAHAT IS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Escamis is joined by teammate Warren Bonifacio, Lyceum of the Philippines University's Enoch Valdez, Emilio Aguinaldo College's JP Maguliano, and University of Perpetual Help's Jun Roque -- also the Most Improved Player -- in the Mythical Team.
Romel Calahat (San Sebastian College-Recoletos) was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year alongside Valdez, Escamis, Maguliano, and Lorenz Capulong (Arellano University) in the Defensive Team, while Jay Garupil (Colegio de San Juan de Letran) was adjudged the top true freshman.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
