Mapua University head coach Randy Alcantara thanked his second unit for helping carry the fight for the Cardinals in their 75-57 thrashing of San Beda University on Friday.
Starters Paolo Hernandez and Clint Escamis had big games for Mapua with the veteran guard churning out a team-high 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block. Escamis, meanwhile, put together an all-around game of 14 markers, eight dimes, and seven boards to go with two steals, and one blocks.
Alcantara said it was their collective effort that spelled the difference, but stressed their second unit brought in some energy that helped the Cardinals send the Red Lions crushing.
"Sabi ko nga, team effort, lahat gumana. Unang game plan namin is depensahan ‘yung Cortez and hindi naman namin in-expect na ma-early foul trouble siya," Alcantara said in the post-game interview.
"So ayun ‘yung magandang nangyari. We started with these two guys (Hernandez and Escamis) so ‘yung energy ang taas."
(As I said, it's a team effort. Everyone worked out. Our first game plan is to defend Cortez and we did not expect that he will be in early foul trouble. That's one good thing that happened. We started with these two guys so our energy is high.)
Hernandez and Escamis' hot-shooting rubbed off on their teammates with rookie JC Recto chipping in nine points, five rebounds, and an assist off the bench while Marc Cuenco hit some timely triples to tally eight markers and seven rebounds.
"Inumpasahan ni Paolo at Clint then hawa-hawa na pati ‘yung second unit gumana na," Alcantara added.
"'Yun siguro ‘yung pinakamalaking factor na nag-contribute ‘yung second unit namin."
(We started with Paolo and Clint then our second unit followed. That's the biggest factor that contributed to our second unit.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
