Clint Escamis went on supernova mode as Mapua turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 89-79, Saturday to complete a return trip to the NCAA Season 100 basketball finals at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Escamis erupted for a career-high 33 points and teamed up with Chris Hubillla in the fourth quarter in helping power the Cardinals back to the best-of-three finale next week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It will be the second straight finals appearance and third in the last four seasons for Mapua, which is seeking to end a long, excruciating wait for a first senior cage crown since winning it all 33 years ago.
And the Cardinals did it with Escamis, the league’s reigning MVP, at the helm as well as their scrappy defense that made life difficult for the Pirates to do their usual pillaging.
Mapua had actually started strong as it roared to a 45-30 lead—its biggest of the showdown—in the second quarter, but faltered in the third canto when it was thoroughly outplayed by LPU, which snatched the 65-63 lead.
The Pirates made it a 67-63 edge on a sweet-looking medium-range jumper by Gyle Montano early in the last period.
Escamis and Hubilla then sparked a massive run that saw Mapua seizing a 79-69 lead that it preserved in the end.
The Pirates desperately tried to turn things around but six critical free throw misses late sank their ship.
Mapua will play the winner of the College of St. Benilde-San Beda series
