JC Recto doesn't want to go through the phases of heartbreak and then moving on yet again.
Mapua has learned its lessons well - and complacency is the worst thing it can do again in this NCAA men's basketball finals.
“Last year, na-jinx kami kasi Game 1 nakuha rin namin. Game 2 parang masyado kaming kumportable kasi nanalo kami ng Game 1 sa Beda,” Recto recalled of the team’s heartbreaking loss during the championship round in Season 99 against San Beda.
“Kaya iniisip namin as a team, hindi na puwedeng mangyari yung last season, kasi iba yung sakit ng finals ng Game 2 and Game 3. Ginawa namin ang lahat, pero talo pa rin kami.”
Now, the Cardinals are yet again facing the same situation after they drew first blood in their best-of-three showdown with College of St. Benilde for the Season 100 championship following an 84-73 in last week’s Game 1.
The ghost of Christmas past
Recto can’t help but look back at how disaster struck Mapua last year, as its bid to end more than three decades of title-less campaigns went up in smoke.
“Gusto naman namin makuha yung dapat ay sa amin, which is the championship,” he said. “Hindi na puwedeng mangyari ulit yung last season.”
Indeed, the Cardinals showed greater resolve to put the past behind, with how reigning MVP Clint Escamis and Recto played in the series opener.
Escamis sizzled for 30 points, including 22 in the opening half to lead Mapua to a fiery start, before Recto, Chris Hubilla, Jan Jabonete, and Jeco Bancale took over when it mattered to secure the 11-point win.
Playing in his second season with the Cardinals, Recto is actually just getting started this season after missing half of the top-seeded team’s campaign this year due to chicken pox.
The infection made him miss six games at least before returning at the tail end of the second round.
“So habang tumagal, nakuha ko na yung rhythm ko, yung kundisyon ko, naibalik na rin,” said Recto, who had 15 points in the Game 1 win.
As proof of just how resolute the Cardinals were in ending a 33-year title drought, there was no grand celebration at the dugout shortly after the series-opening victory.
They still had their game faces on even after leaving the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Nag-celebrate 24 hours lang, pero nung Monday, trabaho ulit kasi alam namin hindi magiging madali yung Game 2 kasi paghahandaan din kami ng Benilde. Hindi nila basta-basta ibibigay yung panalo sa amin,” Recto said.
Game 2 of the finals is set on Saturday (Dec. 7) also at the Big Dome, while a Game 3, if necessary, is slated to be played next week at the same venue.
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