Published October 4, 2025 2:04pm
Updated October 4, 2025 2:04pm
NCAA Season 101. October 4, 2025. Clint Escamis of Mapua Cardinals against the Arellano Chiefs. (Photo: Thomas Villanueva)
Clint Escamis atoned for his offensive struggles last game, dropping a near career-high outing to lift Mapua to a 90-87 win against Arellano in the NCAA Season 101 on Saturday.
The graduating guard, who was limited to just eight points against LPU last Wednesday that also saw him foul out in the overtime, erupted for 29 points, just four points shy of his career-best 33 points he achieved in the semifinals last year.
Escamis also poured three rebounds, three assists, and three steals as the Cardinals improved to 2-0 in Group A while the Chiefs fell short of the upset to open their campaign with a 0-1 card.
“Going into this game, alam namin tough team sila. We didn’t take them lightly, alam namin na babalik at babalik ‘yan. The experience from our first game helped us lalo na sa endgame, ‘yung execution lalo na sa defensive side,” Escamis said.
“[Pinakita namin] ‘yung never say die [mentality] at championship heart.”
But even with Escamis’ scoring outburst, the defending champions still found it difficult to put the game away comfortably.
Basti Valencia kept the fight within Arellano after burying a triple and completing a jumper over the defense of Escamis to trim the gap to four, 80-84. Ernjay Geronimo then sank another layup, bringing the Chiefs within just two at 82-84 with 1:26 to go in the fourth.
Mapua then struggled to solve the Arellano defense in the next play before transferee Cyrus Nitura found Cuenco, who drained a huge triple to send the Cardinals to an 87-82 cushion.
Cuenco then created a crafty play that resulted in Yam Concepcion’s alley-oop basket, making it an 89-85 lead for Mapua in the final 36 seconds.
Arellano made a last-gasp comeback with Joseph Hernal scoring on a putback off a Maverick Vinoya missed three-pointer, 87-89, before Cuenco’s split sent Mapua to a three-point advantage.
Nitura then came up with the game-winning block on Camay, who tried to knock down a potential game-tying three-pointer with five ticks left.
Cuenco poured in 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists while Cyril Gonzales and Nitura chipped in 12 and 10 markers apiece as Mapua remained unbeaten.
Scores:
Mapua 90 – Escamis 29, Cuenco 14, Gonzales 12, Nitura 10, Sapasap 9, Reyes 5, Concepcion 5, Lazarte 4, Recto 2, Gulapa 0, Igliane 0, Delos Reyes 0, Ryan 0.
Arellano 87 – Valencia 13, Abiera 12, Hernal 11, Ongotan 10, Libang 10, Camay 8, Cabotaje 6, Borromeo 5, Vinoya 4, Geronimo 4, Demetria 4, Acop 0, Buenaventura 0, Miller 0.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
