San Beda’s ‘demon-like’ defense led to NCAA crown

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—San Beda coach Yuri Escueta lauded Mapua after winning the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball championship.

Despite coming away with a 10-point victory, Escueta tipped his hat to counterpart Randy Alcantara and the Cardinals’ backcourt duo of Clint Escamis and Paolo Hernandez.

Escueta and his coaching staff, however, knew just what to do to slow down the Cardinals’ one-two punch.

“Well, I have to give it to coach Randy and his coaching staff, they know how to put Pao and Clint at the right spots but as I said, they may have Hernandez and Escamis but we have four guys behind our players,” said Escueta after their 76-66 win in Game 3 of the Finals at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

“Pay(osing) was defending Hernandez and we told him we have four guys behind you, whatever happens do your best to contain him and the four other guys are behind you, help is there for you.”

Escamis, the Rookie-MVP, was limited to just 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while Hernandez struggled mightily with only six points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field.

Escueta credited his boys’ “demon-like” defense in shutting down the Cardinals’ offensive options.

“I told them to play defense like demons. Defense will be the thing that will make us win here and that’s what I told them. We have pride in our defense. Defense wins the championship.”

San Beda star Jacob Cortez also relished the experience of going up against Escamis on the NCAA’s biggest stage.

“I had a hard time, as you can see I even had cramps. He’s very talented and he gave it his all. It’s always good going up against that caliber of players,” Cortez said.