Mapua University came so close to ending a 32-year title drought but back-to-back losses to San Beda University in Games 2 and 3 of the NCAA Season 99 Finals doomed that long-standing dream.
And no one was more hurt than the Cardinals' rookie-MVP Clint Escamis.
Escamis, whose team was on the verge of the school's first championship since 1991 after taking the series opener, tried to put into words his feelings about letting the title slip from their hands as San Beda University completed is own date with destiny, bringing the NCAA crown back to Mendiola.
"Sobrang sakit kasi especially Game 2, nagkampante kami. We thought na we had it na. Sobrang sakit talaga," Escamis said on Sunday.
"At the end of the day, wala e, nangyari na, you can only move forward. 'Di ko ma-describe 'yung pain e. Grabe yung pinaghirapan namin e. People (are) counting us out to start the season tapos dito, we fell short in two games."
"Siguro nga, they (San Beda) deserve it more. Nag-adjust sila e. Finals is a game of adjusting."
[It hurts because, especially in Game 2, we became complacent. We thought we had it. It hurts a lot. At the end of the day, there's nothing you can do, it already happened, you can only move forward. I can't describe the pain. We worked so hard for this. People were counting us out to start the season, but here we fell short in two games. Maybe the deserve it more. They adjusted. Finals is a game of adjusting.]
Escamis stressed that they should use this loss as fuel for next year, where he will be given heavier responsibility with team captain Warren Bonifacio and big man Jopet Soriano bidding their goodbyes.
"There's always next year talaga. Sabi ko nga when I had my speech kanina, use this as motivation, especially sa mga natira," he added.
"Sinasabi ko nga sa kanila, 'wag kayo mag-look down. Tignan niyo yung San Beda, pagka-cut nila ng net. Use that as fuel for next season."
[There's always next year. I said in my speech earlier, use this as motivation, especially those who will be coming back. I told then, don't look down. Look at San Beda, how they cut the nets. Use that as fuel for next season,]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
