Mapua snapped a long drought and San Beda’s seven-year rule of junior basketball with an 84-67 drubbing of the Red Cubs to clinch the NCAA basketball high school crown yesterday at MOA Arena.
“I learned to be patient,” said coach Randy Alcantara, after the Red Robins snapped a 16-year basketball title drought for Mapua. “I worked harder and I told myself I’ll take our team to the top someday and I’m very thankful we’re here now.”
Brian Lacap led his team by firing 16 points while Clint Escamis celebrated his 16th birthday by pouring in 14 points to help seal Mapua’s 20th championship overall, just two behind San Beda’s league-best 22 crowns.
It was Alcantara’s first championship as a coach although he already won two NCAA titles as part of the Mapua team that won back-to-back in the 1990-91 seasons. He was teammates then with Chito Victolero, the new coach of Star in the PBA.