After The Red Comes Gold: A 33-Year Drought-Breaking Victory For The Mapúa Cardinals

The Mapúa Cardinals have finally declared timeout on the bleeding of their 3-decade waiting period with a golden shot that crowned them the Men’s Basketball Champions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100.

After an intense domination on the court of the Big Dome, the eighteen-man team’s epic 94-82 win over the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers in their best-of-three finals series last December 7 brought a historic milestone to Mapúa University, adding glory to the celebration of its 100th year in January. For the Intramuros-based squad, this centennial victory was no coincidence—behind the splendor of the trophy was a year of grueling training, arduous routines, and a whole lot of strategizing.

Under the phenomenal coaching of Randy Alcantara, a fellow Cardinal who helped win Mapúa’s last back-to-back championship titles in 1990 and 1991, 1st-year BS Industrial Engineering student and Team Captain Clint Escamis perfectly articulated his group’s viewpoint on the necessity of resolute teamwork and the sustenance of an unwavering team spirit throughout their journey to owning the crown—crucial elements their opponents failed to emulate.

“Last year’s game was a wake-up call and a lesson,” said Escamis, who reigned as 1/5 of this year’s Mythical Team. “This sport demands more than just stamina. I needed to be composed in all aspects to lead my team, and through my coaches’ mentorship, my teammates and I were able to maximize our athleticism despite a lot of us being rookies.” he shared.

For the athlete star, involving his teammates in every shot, sharing his worst and best experiences on the court, and boosting their confidence are integral components of the leadership style he cultivates within the team. Admittedly, this reflects Coach Randy’s “system” in preparing them for their winning moment, a zenith that was indeed realized.

But above all, mutual trust was the thread that held them together amidst a dark period from last season’s heartbreak—the same trust that lifted them out of adversity and propelled them towards redemption. This, intertwined with hard work, was the Cardinals’ ultimate weapon against their rivals. As Escamis expressed, “it takes good coaches, good teammates, and good players” to effectively function as a team and rise above obstacles.

A fitting statement from the captain—after all, his squad were no strangers to the storms of life prior to being hailed kings of the NCAA court.

Sorsogon-born Chris Hubilla, for example, sought a place for himself as an aspiring student-athlete in several universities in Metro Manila. With misfortune seeming to intervene each time, he felt defeated before he could even begin—not until Mapúa saw the potential that was brewing and decided to take him in.

Now a rising star, Hubilla’s success evidently reflects Coach Randy’s trust in him from the very beginning, the same way the former Cardinal champion’s trust in his vision and direction for the team is crystal clear among the supportive Mapúan community and the country. For the coach, the support which carried the Cardinals from the 1991 championship up to their iconic comeback this year must be the driving force behind their remarkable triumph. An inspiration then and now, Coach Randy proved to be the pivotal figure the Cardinals needed to claim the trophy once again.

Apart from the trophy, the Cardinals also took home the glory, as Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) student Hubilla was awarded Freshman and Rookie of the Year, while fellow 1st and 2nd-year BPE students Sherfrazkhan Abdulla, Noel Agemenyi, Jeco Bancale, Yam Concepcion, Cyrus Cuenco, Aaron Fermin, Joaquin Garcia, Marc Igliane, John Jabonete, Lawrence Mangubat, Arjay Pantaleon, JC Recto, Edward Ryan III, Resty Fornis, Joshua Pabilona, and Brix Reyno equally exceeded expectations, hooping above and beyond for the gold.

“This is a momentous achievement for Mapúa —a crowning glory as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. This championship signifies not only our students’ athletic prowess but the culmination of hard work and dedication of our university in fostering a supportive and inspiring environment for our athletes to thrive.” stated Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and CEO of Mapúa University.

He further added that Mapúa has always championed excellence both in academics and in sports, hence, their commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals through providing full athletic scholarships and benefits, ensuring state-of-the-art facilities, as well as fostering a supportive community.

With the NCAA 100 trophy on Mapúa’s top shelf and its centennial year on the horizon, there’s nothing stopping the Cardinals from building a dynasty that will inspire generations of Mapúans to come.