One way or another, history is set to be rewritten.
This as Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde head to Smart Araneta Coliseum at 2 p.m. on Sunday to dispute the NCAA Season 100 title — a first in the league's rich history.
Both schools have more than enough motivation in the series with the top-seeded Cardinals looking to finally put an end to a 33-year title dry spell while the Blazers are gunning to regain the crown that has been elusive to them for the past 24 years.
But history aside, it's all back to zero for either team.
Mapua and Benilde are balanced in terms of head-to-head matches this season. The Blazers relied on their newcomers to eke out a 78-65 win during their first round match with MVP frontrunner Allen Liwag churning out 23 points and 18 rebounds in his first game back in the NCAA last September 8.
However, reigning MVP Clint Escamis called game in their second encounter, burying the buzzer-beater triple to cap off a 20-point comeback victory for Mapua, 75-73, just last November 10.
Both teams would then take care of their respective semifinals foes as Benilde dethroned San Beda University while Mapua escaped host Lyceum of the Philippines University to set up their first-ever NCAA finals duel.
Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said it will all boil down to how the two teams will use the much-needed one-week break.
"For NCAA, it’s good na it might be the first time in so long na hindi San Beda or Letran ang nag-champion. There’s gonna ba a new champion, hopefully it’s us. But to me, it doesn’t matter naman who we face kasi all the teams are tough," Tiu said.
"The finals games are a bit long to be honest, one week apart, siyempre gusto na rin namin maglaro but it is what it is. It gives us time to rest and recover and hopefully we can prepare for Mapua."
Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara agreed, saying the week-long breather will help them dissect what their weaknesses are and hopefully correct them once they meet Benilde at the Big Dome.
"Again, sabi ko nga sa start ng NCAA, walang mahina at walang malakas. So pahinga muna ‘yung mga players. Kung ano ‘yung preparation namin sa elimination, siguro mas dodoblehin pa namin at ‘yung details makuha namin during filming," Alcantara told GMA News Online.
"Babalikan namin kung saan nagkamali at sana itong one week na ‘to makatulong sa amin nang malaki."
Part of Benilde's preparation would be on how to put the clamps on Escamis, who is averaging 16.37 points in the elimination before he detonated for a career-high 33 points against the Pirates last Saturday.
Tiu, however, acknowledged that Mapua is more than just the veteran guard, saying they also need to be wary of the likes of Chris Hubilla, Cyrus Cuenco, and Lawrence Mangubat.
"He’s a great player and it’s tough to stop him but Mapua is more than just him. I mean with guys like Hubilla, Cuenco, Mangubat, they’re really solid," Tiu added.
"Randy is a great coach, it’s always tough to go against him and his team in any league so it’s gonna be a dogfight for us."
Same goes for the Cardinals with Alcantara highlighting the fact that the current crop of Blazers are different from the previous batches.
"Alam naman natin ‘yung Benilde din malakas naman talaga. Kaming mga coaches [titignan namin] kung saan kami nagkulang last year na one win away na lang kami then sana ma-correct namin," Alcantara said.
"Iba na ‘yung Benilde sa last year na na-out sa Final Four so iba ‘to. Kailangan talaga ‘yung mental and physical maging ready kami."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
