Mapua University may only have five key holdovers, but everyone, including the new ones, are feeling the pain from last year and turning it into fuel as they continue to roll in the NCAA Season 100.
"Sabi ko nga na ‘yun ‘yung maganda dito kasi isang taon na ‘yung nasaktan kami pero parang part na rin ‘yung mga bago namin," Mapua coach Randy Alcantara said.
What most people thought would be Mapua's weakness — a rookie-laden roster — is turning out to be their strength this year.
While there's no doubt that reigning MVP Clint Escamis and a few holdovers led by Cyrus Cuenco are still the team's bread and butter, several rookies are making Mapua an even scarier unit this season.
Leading that barrage is prized forward Chris Hubilla, alongside lefty gunner Lawrence Mangubat and do-it-all big man Yam Concepcion, all of whom are now key cogs for Alcantara and are supplying more than ample help to their usual suspects as they completed a second-round sweep to clinch the top spot.
For Alcantara, letting his rookies embrace the past heartbreak is what has been lighting up the fire in them.
"Pinaramdam namin kung gaano kasakit ‘yung nangyari last year," Alcantara added.
In fact, even Alcantara was in awe to see how the rookies are buying into their system and purpose.
"Na-surprise talaga ako kasi dahil nga alam namin na ilan lang ‘yung pwede naming puntahan pero nakita nila na pwede pala silang makatulong even though na rookies sila. ‘Yung tiwala ‘yung pinakang key. Nag-trust ‘yung mga veterans sa mga rookies."
With the way things are, Alcantara is optimistic that their time might actually come. Still, they aren't putting their guards down as they will now face host Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four.
"Sa tinatakbo, puwede kong sabihin na gano’n pero sabi ko nga, mag-iiba ‘yung takbo dahil katulad ng LPU, siyempre sila rin galing sa [sakit] last year so iba rin ‘yung motivation nila, iba rin ‘yung paghuhugutan nila. Ang maganda diyan, controlled pa namin."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
