Allen Liwag (left) is also a great defensive player as shown against Yam Concepcion. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Even before the historic NCAA Season 100 started, the Mapua Cardinals and the College of St. Benilde Blazers were already in conversations about potential Finals clashes.

Of course, the San Beda Red Lions were in the mix as champions the previous season. But the exodus of some key players from their come-from-behind trophy run are gone.

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In the end, it was the Cardinals and the Blazers who made it to the last dance.

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On paper, the Blazers command the advantage in this best-of-three series, if only for the presence of MVP contender Allen Liwag.

However, never count the Cardinals out.

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Reigning MVP Clint Escamis is surrounded by a solid support cast of Chris Hubilla, JC Recto, Cyrus Cuenco and Yam Concepcion.

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“We pushed ourselves every day in practice just to return the to championship and finally win the title. Now that we got another shot, this time we have to do it right,” said Escamis.

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“We have to come up more prepared against Mapua. We have to be ready, we have to find a way to stop Clint Escamis and the Cardinals,” said St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu on his second Finals appearance in three seasons.

The two teams split their preliminary round assignments. The Blazers crushed the Cardinals in their first meeting, but Mapua got back at St. Benilde in the encore—on a buzzer-beating, game-winning three by Escamis.

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Not that past results have anything to do with the title on the line.

“We know it’s a different atmosphere here in the Finals, so we have to be physically and mentally prepared,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara, who has fallen short in two previous tries to nail an NCAA crown.

Winning the 100th staging of the tournament would make the wait worth it for Mapua, but Alcantara and his wards will first have to deal with the Blazers and the 6-foot-6 Liwag, who Mapua can’t match up against.

And even if Mapua defends Liwag by committee, that will only free up St. Benilde’s plethora of shooters: Jhomel Ancheta, Gab Cometa, Tony Ynot and pushy forward Justine Sanchez, among them.

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“What we lack in size, we will make up for in defense and hustle. I think we have a deeper lineup in terms of defense and hustle [compared to our previous teams in the Finals]. This is the advantage of this teamvvjl,” said Alcantara.

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