CLINT Escamis buried a clutch three-pointer from near midcourt and lifted Mapua to a dramatic 75-73 come-from-behind triumph over College of St. Benilde in Sunday’s battle between the two top teams in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
Escamis hoisted from 30 feet as the shot clock was winding down, and the ball hit nothing but net to give the Cardinals the feel-good victory before a huge crowd at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The reigning MVP then ran around the court like a wild man shortly after the game-winner, as his teammates tried to run after him amidst the delirious celebration of Mapua supporters that included Magnolia coach Chito Victolero at ringside.
“Diyos na ang gumawa nun. It’s beyond my reach,” said Escamis of his miracle shot.
Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara agreed with his star player.
“Si God na yun,” he added.
Escamis finished with a game-high 26 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a crucial steal off Allen Liwag that paved the way for the game-winner.
The win forged a tie for first between Mapua and the Blazers at 13-3, as the two-round eliminations enters its last four playdates.
Benilde, though, won the first-round face-off by a big margin, 74-65, to give it the tiebreaker.
Mapua's furious fightback
The Blazers appeared ready to coast to another win that would assure them of a twice-to-beat advantage after they led, 54-34, late in the second quarter.
But Escamis willed the Cardinals back in the third period, scoring eight straight points to carry his team back into the game, 60-63, entering the final quarter - even outscoring all of their opponents, 21-9.
Mapua finally tasted their first lead, 72-70, entering the final quarter, before leading MVP contender Liwag and Tony Ynot countered for Benilde to regain the upper hand, 73-72.
“Ito yung dini-dream off ng mga bata. When you play [NBA] 2K, you set up four, five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. And thank God, ibinigay niya sa akin yung opportunity to make the shot,” said Escamis.
Lawrence Mangubat added 12 and Yam Concepcion 11 for the Cardinals.
Liwag wound up with a double-double of 15 and 13 rebounds for the Blazers, who also got 10 points each from Ian Torres, Gab Cometa, and Matthew Oli.
The Scores:
MAPUA 75 - Escamis 26, Mangubat 12, Concepcion 11, Cuenco 8, Hubilla 5, Recto 5, Igliane 4, Bancale 4 Fermin 0, Abdulla 0.
BENILDE 73 - Liwag 15, Torres 10, Cometa 10, Oli 10, Ynot 9, Sanchez 7, Ancheta 5, Eusebio 3, Cajucom 3, Sangco 1, Ondoa 0, Morales 0, Turco 0.
Quarters: 16-28; 39-54; 60-63; 75-73.
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