Clint Escamis didn't just return to Mapua University for the sake of returning.
The former Red Robin, who had initially moved to the University of the East in the collegiate ranks, transferred back to Mapua for a reason — and that's to help deliver for the Cardinals the NCAA title that has eluded them for 32 long years.
"Sabi ko kung babalik siya, kailangan may mission siya, may mission kami, and may goal kami kasi hindi lang dapat para bumalik sa Mapua at makalaro," Mapua coach Randy Alcantara said on Tuesday after the Cardinals booked their ticket back to the NCAA Finals.
"And nakita naman natin na nagiba ‘yung laro at tumaas ‘yung energy at nadagdagan ‘yung leader."
("I told him, if you return, you need to have a mission, we need to have a mission, and we need to have goal because you shouldn't return to Mapua just so you can play... And we've seen that he has changed how we play, and the energy has gone up, and we've added a leader.")
So far, Escamis has been living up to all of the expectations.
A strong contender for MVP, the shifty Escamis has emerged as the game changer for the Cardinals he helped his team clinch the top seed in the elimination round en route to the Finals, where they will be playing for what could be the school's first championship since 1991.
In the Final Four, Mapua pulled away late against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to eke out a hard-fought 78-67 escape with Escamis and Paolo Hernandez showing the way all game long.
Escamis, who decided to return to the tutelage of Alcantara after playing for UE for one season, dropped another all-around outing of 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Hernandez, meanwhile, put together 22 markers, four dimes, and three boards.
The 5-foot-11 guard shared that they started all the way from the preseason, when he and Hernandez took it upon themselves to lead the Cardinals come Season 99.
"Nung Day One pa lang palagi na kami naguusap ni Pao and nung beginning of the preseason lang, lagi kaming una sa ensayo and nage-extra work kami. Lagi ko inaaya 'yan sa extra work," Escamis said.
"And I'm happy na nandito na kami sa situation na nagbunga na 'yung hard work, 'yung tiwala namin sa isa't-isa. Pero hindi pa tapos 'yung mission namin."
("Since Day One, Pao and I have been talking and in the beginning of the preseason, we were always the first to practice and did extra work. I always invited him to do extra work... And I'm happy that we are in this situation where that hard work in paying off, our trust in each other. But the mission is not done.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
