HUNTING SEASON: Blazers, Cardinals kick off intriguing title series

Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs Mapua

Two teams with decades-long title droughts will duke it out today as Mapua University and College of Saint Benilde kick off their Season 100 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball best-of-three series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This is the first time in the league that Mapua and Saint Benilde will compete in the finals, making their pairing as a novelty.

The Cardinals entered the NCAA finals as the No. 1 team in the league with a 15-3 win-loss record while the Blazers held the No. 2 seed with a 14-4 card.

Still feeling that stinging loss from last year’s finals against San Beda University, Mapua has been on a 10-game winning streak all the way back in the second round, proof that they are ready to end a 33-year title wait.

The Cardinals’ latest victim was Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four last 23 November at the Cuneta Astrodome, 89-79, as they utilized their twice-to-beat advantage to end the series quickly.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Clint Escamis showed the way for Mapua as he submitted a career-high 33 points against the Pirates.

Still, Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara knows they can’t take the Blazers, led by big man Allen Liwag and Justine Sanchez, lightly as they are also on a quest to finish their 24-year odyssey to the title.

After all, Mapua and Saint Benilde are even-steven this season.

“If you don’t hustle against Saint Benilde and not box out Sanchez and Liwag, they will eat you inside the paint. We learned that lesson in our opening game against them,” said Alcantara, who was part of the 1991 Mapua squad that last won an NCAA championship.

“If you don’t fight back, they will score more than 30 points against you. We need to execute our defense and keep up with their offense.”

Mapua lost its initial meeting with Saint Benilde last 7 September, 65-78, before getting back at the Taft-based team with a 75-73 win in the second round last 10 November thanks to a buzzer-beating shot from Escamis.

Apart from Escamis, rookies Chris Hubilla, who averaged 12.89 points and 6.33 rebounds, and Lawrence Mangubat averaged 9.06 points and 4.06 rebounds, will provide backup for Mapua.

Saint Benilde is likewise on a mission to make up for its meltdown last year against the Red Lions last year and its heartbreaking defeat to the Knights the year before.

The Blazers, who also entered the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage, dethroned defending champions San Beda, 79-63, to get another crack at the title.

Big man Allen Liwag led Saint Benilde with 20 points and eight rebounds.

With Liwag, Sanchez, Gab Cometa, Tony Ynot and Jhomel Ancheta on board, Blazers head coach Charles Tiu believes they have all the tools needed to finally get the job done.

The last time Saint Benilde won it all was back in 2000 when guys like Sunday Salvacion, Jondan Salvador and Al Magpayo were still around.

“It’s a completely new team, I think I only have five guys from the previous team but we worked hard in the offseason to prepare and give guys opportunities to have this moment and we delivered,” Tiu said.

“I think we’re deeper than that Finals team we had so hopefully, it shows in that Finals series.”

Apart from Liwag, Sanchez, who had 10.44 points and 6.0 rebounds, and Ynot, who had 10.14 points and 5.43 rebounds, will provide backup for the Blazers.