NCAA: Clint Escamis enjoys title for now amid questions about return

MANILA, Philippines—With Mapua’s NCAA Season 100 title celebration came the inevitable question of whether Clint Escamis will return to the Cardinals’ lineup for Season 101 or not.

Escamis, the Season 100 Finals MVP, officially has one year remaining with Mapua but instead of giving a straight answer, Escamis decided to let the talks go for now and instead relished the two hardware sitting in front of him.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I’ll just enjoy this for now. All I know is, I’m a champion now, we’re all champions now,” said Escamis in Filipino after the Cardinals’ title-clinching 94-82 win over College of St. Benilde.

READ: Mapua ends 33-year drought, wins NCAA title with sweep of Benilde

“This feels so good because last year, I got the MVP but we lost and that hurt my heart because somehow, it’s like I’m the only one happy but this year, I was fine without winning any individual awards. I set that aside.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Following up on his 30-piece in Game 1 of the two-game stretch against the Blazers, Escamis showed why he’s the heart of Mapua after finishing with 18 points, four assists and three steals.

His tremendous outing in the win that ended Mapua’s 33-year title drought made him the runaway choice for Finals MVP with averages of 24 points on 51-percent shooting, four assists and four steals spanning from two games against the Blazers.

READ: NCAA Finals: Clint Escamis only has eyes on the championship

Winning not just the title but also the Finals MVP plum more than made up for Escamis’ shortcoming in his bid for back-to-back season MVP awards.

“I’m just thinking of my team first [this season],” said Escamis, grasping on both his newly-acquired trophies.

“[I wanted] what’s good and what’s better for the team. Even during the season, even if I wasn’t the best player, as long as we won and I contributed, I’m good,” he added.

Hours before Mapua’s historic win, Escamis was also awarded a spot in this season’s Mythical Five alongside season MVP Allen Liwag and Tony Ynot from Benilde, John Barba from Lyceum and TJ Felebrico from San Sebastian.