Escamis takes blame for Mapua’s endgame woes vs. San Beda — ‘Sa akin ‘yun’

Mapua University star Clint Escamis against San Beda’s Bryan Sajonia. Photo from NCAA Philippines/Angela Davocol.

MANILA — Mapua University was poised to end the first round of the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament as the second seed.

READ: Yuki Andrada takes charge in OT to carry San Beda over Mapua in Finals rematch

Last year's finalists were ahead by two, 66-64, with less than a minute left in the game after former Red Cub Chris Hubilla converted a basket against San Beda University, and all the Cardinals needed was to prevent their Season 99 tormentors from draining a shot.

The Randy Alcantara-coached squad was successful in this as Bryan Sajonia missed his three-pointer to win the game in regulation, and reigning MVP Clint Escamis also had the chance to convert the dagger after he grabbed the defensive board.

However, the Mapua star missed his shot, the Cardinals' defense collapsed and allowed Penny Estacio to tie the game, and Escamis once again failed to bring their community a win after he air-balled his shot at the buzzer. 

"Yung play na yun, para sakin. Pero broken play yun eh dapat drive to the basket, pero I'll live and die by that shot talaga," said Escamis, who had zero points in the fourth quarter and in overtime, limited to shooting 0/6 in that span. 

"May times na nag force ako ng shots, and sa akin yun. Aaminin ko na mali ako doon. Sa akin, yun — I take that responsibility with me," he added.

Aside from his costly misses that pushed them into a logjam with San Beda and Colegio de San Juan de Letran at 6-3, tied for the second to fourth spots, he also credited the pressure that the Red Lions had on him on the defensive end. 

"Naramdaman ko yung defense nila, siyempre, defending champions nga sila, and noong fourth quarter talagang nag adjust nga sila," he pointed out. 

But in the bigger picture, Escamis explained that their fourth quarter collapse has been their main Achilles heel this year in their previous losses counting this one as well as those against De La Salle-College of St. Benilde and Lyceum of the Philippines University. 

"Yung fourth quarters namin talaga yung pinaka problem namin, especially mga key losses namin to CSB, LPU, and ito," he said. "So sinabi ko sa locker room pagkatapos, closing out games, yun ang problem namin."

Fortunately for the Cardinals, this was only the first round, and they have nine more assignments to apply what they had learned in the earlier half of the season.

"Siyempre para sakin, yung mga rookies, wala ngang experience, so lalo na nilang na-experience yung ganitong atmosphere, makalaban ang San Beda on a big stage," he said.

"Madadala nila ito sa second round. Siyempre, nafe-feel nila yun nerves this game considering yung last year's Finals na build up to this game, rematch ulit, and last game na sa first round."

It is now a matter of turning these runs into wins, especially since they are now turning their focus on earning a twice-to-beat advantage come playoff time. 

"Kailangan naming makuha and ma-maintain yung first or second spot kasi magiging malaking bagay sa amin yung twice-to-beat," Escamis emphasized. "For now, back to the drawing board muna ulit."