It’s just like the good old days for Paolo Hernandez and Clint Escamis.
The backcourt duo, who once saw success with Mapua University’s high school program, towed the Cardinals to a 77-67 semifinals victory against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 99 on Tuesday.
Hernandez top-scored for Mapua with 22 points alongside four assists, three rebounds, and three steals while Escamis provided the huge lift with 21 markers, eight boards, four dimes, and two swats.
Mapua will look to complete some unfinished business after falling to Letran in the championship round of Season 97 last year as they await the winner of the match between Lyceum and San Beda.
The teams kept it close the whole game with the Blazers leading for most of the first half but Hernandez kept the Cardinals within three at the half with his three triples to start things up, 37-34.
MVP frontrunner Escamis then found his rhythm late in the third, firing back-to-back triples as they headed to the fourth clinging to a 56-55 cushion.
Back in the first half, Mapua had a dismal 14-of-45 (31.3 percent) shooting from the field but forcing Benilde to 12 turnovers kept them at bay.
Both teams then exchanged runs with the Cardinals unleashing a 6-0 barrage instigated by Hernandez and Escamis before the Blazers answered with their own 7-0 rampage to retake the lead halfway in the fourth, 65-64.
But Hernandez refused to fold. The veteran shooting guard fired another trey before Marc Cuenco’s long bomb saw Mapua enjoying a 74-67 cushion with 2:38 left.
Hernandez then sank two free throws with 29.7 ticks left to ice the game, 77-67.
Migs Oczon paced Benilde with a team-high 17 points on top of six rebounds and one assist while Miggy Corteza chipped in 14 markers, eight boards, and one dime.
Mapua is looking to end a decades worth of title drought and bag the team’s first title since 1991.
The scores:
Mapua 78 - Hernandez 22, Escamis 21, Cuenco 10, Bonifacio 9, Soriano 6, Rosillo 4, Recto 3, Asuncion 3, Igliane 0, Fornis 0, Dalisay 0.
Benilde 67 - Oczon 17, Corteza 14, Carlos 10, Gozum 9, Sangco 5, Mara 5, Turco 3, Arciaga 2 Marcos 2, Nayve 0 Cajucom 0, Marasigan 0, Davis 0.
Quarters: 14-18, 34-37, 56-55, 78-67.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
