MAPUA hopes to end a long 33-year title drought when it guns for the historic men’s basketball crown in the year the NCAA turns 100.
The Cardinals haven’t hoisted the varsity championship since winning back-to-back in 1990-91, and on Saturday, they get the first of two cracks at bringing back the trophy to Intramuros against an embattled College of St. Benilde.
The Blazers, for their part, are looking to live another day and extend the best-of-three series to a deciding winner-take-all set for next week.
Here’s a quick preview of Saturday’s Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Season head-to-head matchup
So far in three meetings this season, Mapua holds a 2-1 edge over Benilde, including an 84-73 win in last week’s series opener.
The Cardinals actually won their last two meetings against the Blazers, counting their 75-73 thriller in the second round of eliminations when Clint Escamis hit a game-winner from near midcourt.
Cardinals on an 11-game winning streak
It could be a fitting ending should Mapua close out the series via sweep, as it will preserve its unbeaten streak dating back to the start of the second round.
Going to Game 2 of the series, coach Randy Alcantara's unit is the league’s hottest team in having won 11 games in a row, including a nine-game sweep of the second round.
Liwag certain to validate his MVP award
The Blazers definitely are not going down without a fight, especially modern big Allen Liwag who emerged as Season 100 MVP. The former Emilio Aguinaldo College stalwart was a dominant force in the series opener, coming through with 18 points and 14 rebounds, though not enough to power Benilde to victory.
The 6-foot-6 Liwag will definitely go out of his way to prove he’s deserving of the league’s highest individual honor, while keeping alive the school’s own hopes of winning back the crown after 24 years.
End of Tiu’s Benilde stint?
There are talks about Charles Tiu leaving the Blazers whether or not they win the championship, as he’ll reportedly be set to assume a much bigger role as part of the Converge coaching staff in the PBA.
Whether or not there’s a grain of truth to it, Tiu remains focused on the job at hand – extending the series and playing in another winner-take-all, just like what Benilde did during the Season 98 finals against Letran when the Taft-based team came close to claiming the trophy.
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