Published October 4, 2025 3:49pm
Updated October 4, 2025 3:49pm
NCAA Season 101. October 4, 2025. Clint Escamis of the Mapua Cardinals against the Arellano Chiefs. (Photo: Thomas Villanueva)
It took Clint Escamis just one bad shooting day to rediscover his usual form.
The graduating Escamis exploded for 29 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc to power Mapua University to a 90-87 win against Arellano University on Saturday in NCAA Season 101.
This eruption allowed the flashy guard to atone for his dismal showing in Mapua’s 90-89 double-overtime escape against Lyceum, where he was held to just eight points on an uncharacteristic 4-of-15 shooting and fouled out late.
This time, though, Escamis made sure to bounce back with a vengeance.
“Thank you, Lord, na healthy ako kasi may nararamdaman ako last game so that gave me the confidence to have my game ngayon, so ayun lang talaga,” said Escamis, who was just four points shy of tying his career high.
“Going into this game, killer instinct talaga eh.”
Escamis, however, admitted that their early-game struggles stem from the fact that every team in the league has raised its level of play.
In both of their outings against the Pirates and the Chiefs, the Cardinals wrestled with jitters in the opening half before leaning on their poise in the endgame to pull through.
This only means that Mapua, the defending champions, also need to elevate their game moving forward, a challenge the Cardinals gladly accept.
“I feel like it’s us din. Pero feel namin na lumakas din talaga ‘yung ibang teams, hindi na katulad nu’ng dati na parang tatambakan ng 10 [points]. Credits din sa ibang teams na nag-i-improve every year,” Escamis added.
“Pero siyempre, kami champion, so kailangan mag-improve din kami. And hindi kami titigil ngayon, celebrate later, kakain lang, then back to work bukas.”
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
