Just like last season, Mapua University took first blood in the NCAA seniors’ basketball finals, 84-73, against returning finalist De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB) on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) and season top scorer Clint Escamis proved that he is still the century-old league’s top dog, exploding for 30 points, the most scored by an individual player since Season 90’s title-clinching performance by Anthony Semerad of San Beda University, who also scored 30 points against Arellano University back in 2014.

Escamis poured much of his score in the first half with 22 points, where the Cardinals erected a ten-point lead, 36-26, which they never relinquished against the Blazers.

“Masarap sa pakiramdam na nanalo, but just what Kobe [Bryant] said, ‘the job’s not finished,'” said the former UE Red Warrior.

In addition to his scoring outburst, Escamis stole five Benildean possessions, contributing to Mapua’s 19 in total.

“Limit their key players talaga and as you see buong week naming pinaghandaan pero nakuha pa rin nya ang points and rebounds nya so kailangan pag-igihan pa naming ang next game,” Escamis explained their game plan coming into the final.

The Blazers kept on lording the shaded area, shooting at 57 per cent from near the basket and grabbing 42 boards anchored on MVP front runner Allen Liwag, who led with 18 points and 14 boards, but their attempt at a comeback was frustrated by Mapua’s trapping defense of JC Recto’s taking over of the second half.

“Di kami pwedeng mawala sa focus ngayon kasi last year, kasi konting mali lang naming noon, dinidiinan kami ng San Beda,” Recto, who supported Escamis with 15 points, said, alluding to the Red Lions come-from-behind championship in Season 99, where they overcame Mapua’s game one victory.

Mapua will rare to win their first tile since 1991 on December 7, 2:30 PM, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The scores:

MAPUA 84 – Escamis 30, Recto 15, Hubilla 9, Mangubat 8, Jabonete 8, Concepcion 4, Cuenco 4, Bancale 3, Igliane 3, Ryan 0, Abdulla 0.

CSB 73 – Liwag 18, Cometa 13, Ancheta 10, Sangco 9, Sanchez 9, Ynot 7, Oli 3, Eusebio 2, Torres 2, Morales 0.

Quarter scores: 26-20, 42-37, 57-48, 84-73