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NCAA Finals: Mapua takes Game 1 vs San Beda

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="San Beda University battles it out with Mapua University in Game 1 of the NCAA men" s="" basketball="" finals="" at="" the="" Mall="" of="" Asia="" Arena="" in="" Pasay="" City.="" Jonathan="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/12/06/mapua.jpg"/><figcaption>San Beda University battles it out with Mapua University in Game 1 of the NCAA men&#x27;s basketball finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- (UPDATED) Mapua University drew first blood against San Beda University, 68-63, in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday.The Cardinals needed to hold off the Red Lions’ gutsy comeback in the fourth period, after San Beda managed to pull to within three points despite being down by 15.After a 13-8 surge, Mapua found itself trailing San Beda, 21-19, midway through the second quarter.But Clint Escamis found his footing late in the first half and helped roll out a 16-2 run for the Cardinals’ 36-31 halftime advantage.Mapua later stretched the lead to 15, but Jacob Cortez tried to shift the momentum to San Beda with a long heave with just 1.8 seconds to go in the third.A trey by Cortez and tough basket by James Payosing cut San Beda’s deficit to six, 61-53, with over five minutes remaining.Oliver Tagle’s triple pulled the Red Lions to within five points, 66-61, with over a minute left.A hard drive by Tagle fished him a foul, allowing him to cut the deficit further to three from the free throw area with 52 seconds to go.Cortez tried to steal the game with an attempt from beyond the arc, but missed. Escamis then buried two freebies to give the Cardinals’ first finals victory since Season 67.Escamis top-scored for Mapua with 18 points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Paolo Hernandez came up with a double-double of 16 punts and 12 boards. Payosing, meanwhile, paced the Red Lions with 14 markers and 12 boards. Jomel Puno and Cortez each had 12 markers.“San Beda’s a tough team, they’re here for a reason,” said Escamis, a leading contender for the MVP plum. “Hindi magpapatalo o magpapatambak &#x27;yan basta-basta.”“So sinabi namin sa group na composure ang kailangan namin para manalo in the end. So kahit bumaba ang lamang o dumikit, naka-execute at naka-convert naman kami.”The Red Lions, who reached the NCAA Finals for the first time since 2019, are gunning for a 22nd basketball title, and their first since the 2018 season.Mapua, meanwhile, is eyeing its first title in 32 years.Game 2 is set Sunday also at the Mall of Asia Arena. A decider, if necessary, is on Dec. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mapua University drew first blood against San Beda University, 68-63, in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday.

NCAA Finals: Mapua takes Game 1 vs San Beda

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NCAA Finals: Mapua takes Game 1 vs San Beda

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 06, 2023 04:24 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 06, 2023 05:26 PM PHT

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Mapua Card8nals

San Beda Red Lions

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