ENOUGH is enough.
Three decades of long and agonizing dry spell should inspire more than ever Mapua University to finally hit pay dirt when it faces College of St. Benilde in the Big Dance of the 100th NCAA basketball tournament.
“For me, each year that passes, siyempre patagal nang patagal, but I think, really, 33 years is enough talaga for a drought. I think iyon na iyong pinakamahaba sa Mapua,” Cardinals star and reigning MVP Clint Escamis said. “So, iyon, kailangan na talaga na namin ito, ito na talaga iyong time namin. Perfect timing.
“For me, wala, celebrate muna kami (sa panalo sa semifinals then) pahinga. But ready kami kung sino man iyong kalaban,” he added.
Mapua is looking to end 33 years of heartbreaks beginning in Game 1 of the best-of-3 series set on Sunday, Dec. 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Siyempre ngayon, alam ko na iyong mga nangyayari (sa finals), iyong mga kailangan ko to shut off iyong mga doors, mga outside noise. For sure, iyong maturity na how to handle the pressure of the finals. Iba iyong pressure. Siyempre, first time ko last year,” the 5-foot-11 Escamis said.
“Let’s say, kahit medyo veteran na ako sa college, iba pa rin iyong finals so iyon iyong mai-instill ko ngayon sa sa akin, pati sa mga teammates ko—maturity.
Escamis is also hoping that his teammates can also bring their A-game when they battle the equally determined Blazers.
“There will be off days for them my teammates, but binibigyan sila ng kumpiyansa like OKay lang iyan,” he said. “Ang sabi ko nga kay (Chris) Hubilla this is your quarter, you perform, and you played well, so iyon na, nakita natin iyon and makikita talaga natin, never say die. Kahit pangit game mo hindi dadalhin to the next possession, i-leave nila sa last possession, and focus on the next one and be better.”
