MAPUA coach Randy Alcantara was overcome with emotion after the Cardinals made it back to the NCAA Finals after a 31-year absence.
Alcantara was reduced to tears during his post-game presser after dedicating the team's 70-67 win over the San Beda Red Lions on Wednesday to the late Mapua athletic director Valeriano 'Amang' Lopez.
[See Mapua makes it back to NCAA Finals for first time since 1991]
"Dine-dedicate namin ito kay Sir Amang Lopez. Dapat kasama namin siya ngayon," said Alcantara amid the shouting and celebration at the adjacent Mapua dugout.
Lopez was the long-time Mapua athletic director who passed away last January at the age of 95. He was the school's athletic head when the Cardinals won back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991 - the last time Mapua reigned as NCAA champions.
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