Clint Esamis continues to prove his MVP honors last year was no fluke, showing up again and again for Mapua University in their redemption tour in NCAA Season 100.
The veteran guard was again prolific in the past week, putting together big numbers for the Cardinals, none bigger than a 26-point performance, including a buzzer-beating long three-pointer he buried against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on Sunday.
That sealed the 20-point comeback win for the Cardinals behind the red-hot Escamis, who also garnered five assists, four rebounds, and one steal on the way to being named the NCAA Player of the Week honors backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, and with Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors for the period of Nov. 5 to 10.
“I’m speechless right now… it just happened to me tapos ganon pa kalayo. Tumingin ako sa time sa taas, mga four seconds na lang and medyo malayo pa ang gap ng defender,” said Escamis.
“Kaya naisipan ko nalang to make that shot, pina-practice ko naman din 'yun eh,” he added.
[I’m speechless right now… It just happened to me and it was from that distance. I just looked at the time left, it was about four seconds and the gap between me and the defender was a little wide. That’s why I thought to just make that shot, since I practice that anyway.]
That also capped off a perfect week for Mapua, which defeated University of Perpetual Help System DALTA last Wednesday with a 71-57 triumph. In that game, Escamis tallied 18 markers, five dimes, one board, and three steals.
With Escamis' leadership on both ends, the Cardinals have now forged a tie with the Blazers at the top of the standings and secured the twice-to-beat bonus.
Escamis has emerged as the third Mapua cager to win the award for also the third straight week after Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat. He bested Lyceum of the Philippines University's Renz Villegas, Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Jimboy Estrada, and Emilio Aguinaldo College's Harvey Pagsanjan for the weekly recognition.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
