Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu admits the Blazers simply had no answer for Mapua’s Clint Escamis in Game 1. Photograph by Joey Sanchez Mendoza for the Daily Tribune
HOOPS

Tiu swears Escamis was game changer

Ivan Suing

College of Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu tips his hat to Mapua University team captain Clint Escamis after their Game 1 encounter in the finals of Season 100 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tiu said after their sorry 73-84 Game 1 loss that the reigning Most Valuable Player gave them a hard time and admitted he’s the best player in the league right now.

Escamis scored 22 of his 30 points in the first half as Mapua now holds a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three championship series.

“I just thought, man, he made a lot of tough shots in the first half because he killed us all defensively. He’s a great player,” Tiu said.

“We just have to make him work to earn his points. But, I mean, he’s better than everyone right now so, I hope some of our players will step up their task and find a way to push them.”

On the verge of missing out on another NCAA crown, the Blazers will have to be at their best once Game 2 rolls around on Saturday at the Big Dome.

Tiu remains optimistic as he believes his wards will be able to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on 14 December.

From there, anything can happen as they aim to finally end a 24-year-wait for an NCAA title.

“Well, that’s a good thing for us. It’s a series. It’s not done in one game,” Tiu said.

“Hopefully, by the second game, we’ll be a bit more focused and go back to playing our game and hopefully, we won’t have any losses. That’s the only thing we can do right now.”