Mapua nears elusive NCAA title with Game 1 win over CSB

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Mapua Cardinals moved closer to putting an end to their 33-year title drought in NCAA men’s basketball after beating the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers in the Season 100 finals, 84-73, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Reigning league Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis dropped 30 points, five steals, and four assists for the Cardinals in over 28 minutes of action.

The 30-point explosion of Escamis is the first in the NCAA finals in the post-pandemic era, while helping Mapua extend its winning streak to 11 this season.

Escamis set the tone for the Cardinals early in the match by pouring 17 points just in the opening quarter.

Then the duo of JC Recto and Chris Hubilla took over the scoring cudgels to pounce on the sluggish Blazers. They finished the match with 15 points and nine points for Mapua, respectively.

Allen Liwag had a double-double performance for CSB with 18 markers and 14 boards.

The Cardinals can shoot for the title sweep on Dec. 7 at the Big Dome.