It’s going to be anyone’s ballgame come Sunday when San Beda (in white) and Mapua play for all of the marbles. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Regardless of a formidable forged of gamers, San Beda acquired no particular person accolades for the season, and but the Crimson Lions fought ferociously to now be ready to win all of it.
The Crimson Lions stretched the NCAA Season 99 Finals right down to the one recreation that issues most after beating the Mapua Cardinals for the primary time on Sunday, 71-65, and fanning the flames of what could possibly be a magical championship run.
“Sure, we didn’t get any award (throughout the person awards ceremony). However we’re hoping to get it subsequent week,’’ stated San Beda coach Yuri Escueta after his Lions diminished their collection with the Cardinals to a decider.
On a day when Mapua firebrand Clint Escamis carted away a lot of the particular awards highlighted by the MVP and Rookie of the Yr trophies alongside together with his inclusions to the legendary and defensive groups, the Lions bought away with the vital victory that solid the decider for Sunday at Good Araneta Coliseum.
“We actually needed to win this badly. We simply caught collectively as a crew and fought it out till the tip,’’ stated Jacob Cortez following a game-high 21 factors highlighted by a pair of three-pointers in a whirlwind fourth-quarter comeback.
Stalled coronation
Coming via within the clutch, the spitfirish Cortez dropped eight factors in that dizzying San Beda fightback, irritating the yellow-and-red Mapua trustworthy who had been all anticipating a coronation.
“That child (Cortez) is particular. After a nasty recreation, you already know he’s able to an enormous comeback,’’ stated Escueta.
“If there’s one factor we discovered, we now know we are able to beat them. However understanding (Mapua) coach Randy (Alcantara), they may definitely alter and it received’t be straightforward,’’ stated Escueta. “We’ve been on this scenario a number of occasions earlier than. We must always be capable to battle with the identical depth in Recreation 3.”
Needing enchancment
Additionally instrumental was Clifford Jopia, the 6-foot-8 defensive ace who towered above the whole Mapua frontline and plucked down essential rebounds within the closing minutes.
And looking forward to the rubber match, the Lions know they should take advantage of out of free throws awarded to them.
The Lions bungled seven of their final eight freebies that would have padded a seven-point lead within the closing body.
Cortez flubbed a pair throughout that stretch and went nine-for-18 from the road total, whereas Aaron Royo missed 4 consecutive charities earlier than Peter Alfaro lastly broke the deadlock by splitting his free throws.
“We have now to make these free throws in Recreation 3, and we are going to make them,’’ stated Escueta.
The Cardinals, although, muffed possibilities to show the sport round by throwing up bricks from past the arc, with Paolo Hernandez misfiring three and Escamis failing to seek out the goal with the clock winding down and ending 4-for-21 from the sphere.
Escamis nonetheless led the Cardinals with 15 factors.
The Cardinals, seeking to finish a 32-year title drought, had been very a lot in it beginning the fourth interval with JC Recto enjoying the sport of his life earlier than 22,465 screaming souls at Mall of Asia Area, scoring six straight factors that pushed them to a six-point lead.
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Then out of the blue, the hot-shooting Cortez roared again to life, his slithering transfer within the paint slicing the protection previous to draining back-to-back threes that fueled the Lions within the wild end INQ