History repeats itself for Mapua Red Robins

MANILA, Philippines – When La Salle Greenhills defeated Mapua in the NCAA juniors finals last season, Junior Blazers head coach Marvin Bienvenida couldn’t believe his luck. 

“Sa totoo lang, we were really gunning for the Season 94 title when we knew we could really compete. Nakasungkit lang kami ngayon,” he said.

Unfortunately for the Junior Blazers, despite prying away RC Calimag from De La Salle Zobel and Kobe Palencia from UST, they were upset by the Red Robins, who were missing star swingman Clint Escamis in the last two games of the finals series. 

“Kami naman ang nakasungkit,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara.

It was a sweet victory for Mapua, which not only avenged their loss to LSGH last season, but also tied the San Beda Red Cubs for the most NCAA Juniors titles with 22 crowns.

In another way, however, history repeated itself for the Red Robins.

During the 2016 NCAA juniors finals, their star Sherwin Concepcion went down with a right shoulder injury with three games left in the elimination round. Then they lost point guard Mike Enriquez in the finals.

Mapua’s opponents for the title that year, the Red Cubs, were overwhelming favorites to win it all. But the Red Robins, behind Brian Lacap, Escamis, Joaqui Garcia, Jasper Salenga and Warren Bonifacio, walloped San Beda, 84-67, to end the Red Cubs’ seven-year title reign that saw them annex their first title since 2000. 

This year, Clint Escamis, who has carried this team with the graduation of many of their stars to the senior ranks, battled a knee injury. Although he played through the pain in the Final Four and in Game One of the finals, Escamis did not suit up for the last two games. Without him, Paolo Hernandez and Dan Arches stepped up even as Jonnel Policarpio played a subpar match. And the result is Mapua’s second title in three seasons. 

Although beaten in the battle of the boards and second chance points by LSGH, Mapua made its living off fast break points, turnover points and 3-point shooting. Not to mention surviving a fourth quarter meltdown in Game Three. 

Alcantara postulated that his team is more than a one-man team. “Siyempre, iba yung meron ka Clint Escamis. Pero na prove namin na we are more than a one-man team. Yan ang Mapua pride.”