By: Amymone Clythie Bautista, Jhon Paul Cundangan, and Julia Francesca Dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines — After securing second seed during the first round, the Mapúa University Cardinals continue to dominate the second round with a 9-game winning streak in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100, placing first at 15-3. The Cardinals then faced the LPU Pirates for the Final Four matchup. Round 2 games were held from October 12 to November 16, and the Semifinals on November 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Center and Cuneta Astrodome.
On October 15, 2024, the Mapúa University Cardinals made a strong comeback following their recent loss to the San Beda University Red Lions. In their first game of the second round of NCAA Season 100, the Cardinals edged out the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers with a hard-fought 75-71 victory.
Subsequent to their redemptive first win, the red and gold carried their momentum into their second game of the round, strengthened by the return of JC Recto. The team triumphed over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in a neck-and-neck battle, securing a thrilling 82-79 victory. This hard-fought win marked their 8th triumph in NCAA Season 100.
Building momentum after their second win, the Mapúa University Cardinals continued to dominate the court, securing their third consecutive victory in NCAA Season 100. They soared high against the heavily defended Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, claiming an impressive 8-point lead with a final score of 76-68.
After a string of losses against the San Beda University Red Lions, the Mapúa University Cardinals finally ended their losing streak with a hard-fought 58-55 victory in NCAA Season 100. Chris Hubilla delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists while maintaining an efficient 80% from the free throw line. This victory marked their 4th consecutive win, continuing their strong momentum in the league's centennial season.
On October 29, the Cardinals exacted revenge on the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates with a thrilling 69-68 victory. Rookie sensation Lawrence Mangubat delivered in the clutch, nailing a decisive three-pointer in the dying seconds to seal the win. Mangubat tallied 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Renz Villegas led all scorers with 22 points. The win extended Mapúa's unbeaten streak in the second round and showcased their composure under pressure.
Mapúa dominated the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas in a commanding 71-57 victory on November 6. Sharpshooter Cyrus Cuenco led the offensive charge, sinking six triples for a team-high 21 points. Team captain Clint Escamis added 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Chris Hubilla and JP Boral chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively. Unlike their close first-round encounter, the Cardinals controlled the game throughout, further cementing their position as a top contender.
In a nail-biting affair on November 10, the Cardinals edged the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 75-73. Clint Escamis delivered another stellar performance with 26 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, while big man Allen Liwag dominated the paint with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Despite the tight contest, Mapúa's poise in crunch time secured the victory, keeping them atop the standings.
The Cardinals kept their momentum going with a 95-79 rout of the San Sebastian Golden Stags on November 13. Fueled by a dominant third-quarter surge, Mapúa built a 32-point lead heading into the final frame. John Recto spearheaded the offensive onslaught with 17 points, matched by strong contributions from Chris Hubilla and Yam Concepcion, who also scored 17 points each. The victory pushed Mapúa to a 14-3 record, staying neck-and-neck with the CSB Blazers for the league’s top spot.
Given more time to prepare, Mapúa closed their second-round campaign with a 75-69 triumph over the Arellano University Chiefs, a game postponed from October 25. Despite a gritty challenge from the Chiefs, Clint Escamis and Chris Hubilla remained consistent, leading the Cardinals with 12 points each. The win solidified their 15-3 record and secured their momentum heading into the NCAA Season 100 playoffs.
The Mapúa Cardinals concluded the second round of NCAA Season 100 with an impressive 15-3 record, securing the top seed alongside the CSB Blazers. With their eyes set on the Men’s Seniors Basketball playoffs, the red and gold are determined to capitalize on their twice-to-beat advantage and carry their momentum into the semifinals.
For two consecutive seasons, the Mapúa Cardinals are set to make another NCAA Men’s Seniors Basketball Finals appearance, after withstanding a third quarter storm by the LPU Pirates. In the classic Battle of Intramuros semifinals matchup, the gold jerseys built a 15-point lead in the second quarter; however, the Pirates took control in the third canto after a 19-8 run. King Cardinal Clint Escamis and Chris Hubilla teamed up and propelled the Cardinals for a 9-2 surge in the last five minutes, 72-67. The Pirates missed six shots from the charity stripe in the last three minutes, 81-75. The Cardinals then closed the game with Hubilla, Escamis, and Yam Concepcion’s steady free throws, 89-79. Escamis fired a career-high 33 points with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. The team captain was backed by Hubilla with 17 points and eight rebounds, and JC Recto with 10 points and five rebounds.
After hard-fought battles in the second round and semifinals, the Mapúa Cardinals will take on the Taft crew, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers in the Best-of-Three Finals of the centennial season of the NCAA Men’s Seniors Basketball. This matchup is historic for many reasons: it is the first time both teams will meet in the NCAA Finals, the first season since Season 85 where the championship will not go to either the San Beda Red Lions or the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, and the first since Season 80 where neither the Knights nor the Red Lions are in the Finals. The highly anticipated Finals will commence on December 1, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The games will be aired on GTV and Heart of Asia (HOA), and live streaming at the official social media platforms of GMA Sports and NCAA Philippines.
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