Mapua University star Clint Escamis lived up to his lofty billing as the Most Valuable Player after scoring 30 points in their 84-73 win over College of Saint Benilde in Game 1 of Season 100 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball finals after an 84-73 win Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Coming off a career-high 33-point outburst in the Final Four last week, Escamis went 12-of-21 from the field and dished out four assists and five steals for the Cardinals as they are now one win away from clinching the coveted title.

The last time Mapua won it all in the NCAA was way back in 1991 when the likes of Benny Cheng and current head coach Randy Alcantara defeated San Beda University in their best-of-three series.

Season 99 saw the Cardinals take a 1-0 series lead but eventually crumbled to the San Beda University Red Lions.

That’s why for Escamis, they can’t relax just yet.

“Anything can happen,” Escamis said.

“I learned a lot last year. You don’t just win the championship in Game 1.”

A layup from Escamis with 1:04 left in the first quarter capped an 11-4 run that saw Mapua establish a 25-13 lead.

The Cardinals never relented as they led for the rest of the match.

John Jabonete sank a couple of free throws with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Mapua its biggest lead at 14, 62-48.

JC Recto came off the bench to contribute 15 points while rookie big man Chris Hubilla had a near double-double for Mapua with nine points and nine rebounds.

Allen Liwag had a double-double game for the Blazers with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The Blazers attempt to get even on Saturday also at the Big Dome and keep their bid of ending a 24-year title drought alive.

If not, this could be the Blazers’ third finals defeat in the NCAA after suffering heartbreaks in 2002 against San Sebastian College and in 2022 against Letran College.

A win on Saturday for Saint Benilde will force a winner-take-all Game 3 on 14 December in the same famed Cubao venue.

The scores:

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

SAINT BENILDE (73) — Liwag 18, Cometa 13, Ancheta 10, Sangco 9, Sanchez 9, Ynot 7, Oli 3, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Morales 0.

QUARTERS: 26-20, 42-37, 57-48, 84-73.