Mapua Cardinals’ Clint Escamis during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Clint Escamis will have to represent Mapua in the NCAA Season 100 without his usual partner-in-crime, Paolo Hernandez.
Before the centennial season of the NCAA, Cardinal sniper Hernandez announced that he would be forgoing his final playing for Mapua, leaving Season 99 MVP Escamis alone in the driver’s seat.
“Before Season 99, he already told me it’s his last playing season,” said Escamis at the 2024 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Monday.
READ: NCAA: Clint Escamis, Paolo Hernandez show brotherhood amid finals loss
“I got sad, of course, but that’s his decision. I told him good luck and wished him all the best. There’s pressure and at the same time, it’s an opportunity to rise to the occasion, especially with our loss last year.”
The tandem of Hernandez and Escamis brought the Cardinals to greater heights last year.
After missing out on the Final Four in Season 98, Mapua got the biggest shot in the arm with the resurgence of Hernandez and Escamis; a duo that already materialized during their high school days with the Red Robins.
However, Mapua faltered to San Beda in three games in the Finals, prematurely ending the stellar stint of Escamis and Hernandez together.
READ: NCAA: Mapua’s Clint Escamis wins Rookie of the Year, MVP
Now with a younger core and improved swingmen in tow, Escamis is excited to run it back and hope for a greater outcome with the new Cardinals.
“We can bounce back now especially since we have recruits who underwent residency last year. We also have improving sophomores from last season who didn’t play much last year. They’ll have bigger roles this season and I can count on them.”
Another thing that Escamis is also looking forward to, other than bouncing back, is defending his MVP award.
Escamis won not just the MVP award but also the Rookie of the Year plum for Season 99 after posting norms of 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game.
Now with his second season loading, he hopes to achieve the same feat and more.
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“Of course, we can only go up from here. Hopefully I go back-to-back and get my first title this year. That’s the goal.”