MANILA, Philippines—Clint Escamis’ unsure standing for NCAA Season 101 hovered above Mapua coach Randy Alcantara after successful the championship that had eluded the Cardinals for 33 years.
However that didn’t dampen Alcantara’s pleasure in any respect as he’s simply pleased to carry a title to Mapua, a feat that he was in a position to do as a participant 33 years in the past.
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If something, the veteran tactician was nothing however assured when requested in regards to the squad’s future standing following their historic triumph of the Season 100 title.
READ: Mapua ends 33-year drought, wins NCAA title with sweep of Benilde
“With our lineup, we’re okay however after all… we’ll test on what our MVP’s resolution will probably be,” stated Alcantara in jest following their 94-82 win over Faculty of St. Benilde in Recreation 2 at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
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“However whoever will probably be put in our lineup for subsequent 12 months will certainly face the identical kind of competitors that we had this 12 months, towards groups who’re all bettering and turning into stronger.”
Escamis, who was hailed because the Season 100 Finals MVP, might have performed his last season for the Cardinals as he now solely has one optionally available 12 months to compete once more on the collegiate stage.
Yesteryear’s season MVP was non-committal, himself, relating to whether or not he’d return or not however that didn’t appear to faze Alcantara a lot.
READ: NCAA: Clint Escamis enjoys title for now amid questions on return
In any case, ought to Escamis resolve to forgo his last 12 months for the Intramuros-based squad, Mapua will nonetheless be closely geared up with younger weapons that also have some years with the Cardinals.
For one, Mapua’s anticipating the progressions of its core with gamers like Chris Hubilla, Laurence Mangubat, JC Recto and Cyrus Cuenco, to call a couple of.
Cuenco spearheaded the Cardinals’s historic title-clinching win over the Blazers with 19 factors. Mangubat, in the meantime, scattered 17 factors to assist Hubilla’s close to double-double of 15 factors and eight rebounds.
So far as Alcantara’s involved, as soon as the adrenaline of the title dies down, it’s again to sq. one for him and the Cardinals within the offseason.
“[We’ll do the] similar issues. We’ll return to work after our celebration. We’ll put together those that will probably be changing our graduating gamers,” stated Alcantara.
“Hopefully, that subsequent batch sees how good it’s to win a championship, even when it’s not that straightforward.”
As of writing, solely two gamers from the Mapua camp will probably be exiting the lineup, particularly Joaquin Garcia and Aaron Fermin.