Escamis named as NCAA Player of the Week

As Mapua ascended to the top of the leaderboard in NCAA Season 99, the Cardinals needed the exploits of a returning guard to pull off two massive victories.

Clint Escamis averaged twenty points, eight rebounds, six assists, and six steals for Mapua's two victories this week, leading to the Cardinals taking solo leadership with a 6-1 record.

Against defending champions Letran, the transfer from the University of the East dropped twenty points, seven rebounds, five assists, and eight steals to secure a 77-71 victory.

And this past Saturday, in a much-anticipated matchup with Lyceum involving the two-best teams so far this season, the former Red Robin also scattered twenty points, including a top-of-the-key dagger triple, while also grabbing nine rebounds, and seven assists in a near-triple-double performance. He also added four blocks in the 87-83 victory to send the Pirates to back-to-back losses after winning their first six games.

His achievements impressed the scribes covering the beat, and was named as its NCAA Player of the Week this season by the Collegiate Press Corps. Escamis beat our King Gurtiza of Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jun Roque of Perpetual, Jacob Cortez of San Beda, and Miguel Oczon of the College of Saint Benilde for the weekly nod, and succeeded teammate Paolo Hernandez in the process.

Escamis notes the trust that the team puts in him as the reason for his excellent play. He tells the media after their game against the Pirates, "Sobrang saya and thankful talaga ako sa opportunity na binigay ni coach Randy (Alcantara) and ni coach Yong (Garcia) sa akin and thank God na pumasok 'yung shot na 'yun."

The 5'11 playmaker acknowledges that there is still work looming ahead with a return trip to the postseason in the horizon.

He beams, "There was a lot of excitement towards this game kasi 'Battle of Intramuros' and battle for number one seed so 'yun talaga, keep on working talaga. But ayun, on to the next."

The Player of the Week citation is presented by the San Miguel Corporation and is backed by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.

Doria, Ynot picked as NBTC All-Star injury replacements

NBTC

The NBTC announced a couple of replacements for their injured players that will force them to the sidelines of the NBTC All-Star Game on March 24.

Team Heart's team captain Joel Cagulangan has an ankle issue that will force the La Salle Greenhills standout to miss the game, while Clint Escamis of Team Hustle is still recovering from surgery that addressed his ACL injury on the right knee of the Mapua/Malayan guard.

Named as Cagulangan's replacement is Adam Doria. The incoming Adamson Soaring Falcon averaged 13 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Baby Falcons, and helped them reach the UAAP HS Final Four. He joins Carl Tamayo of Nazareth-NU, Inand Fornilos and Joshua David of La Salle-Greenhills, Harvey Pagsanjan for Hope Christian HS, Aaron Fermin of Arellano, Paolo Hernandez and Dan Arches for Mapua/Malayan, Joshua Yerro of the University of Visayas, Mac Guadana of Lyceum, Rafael Go of Chiang Kai Shek, and Joem Sabandal of Adamson, with Charles Tiu serving as Team Heart's head coach.

Named as Escamis' replacement is Tony Ynot. The San Beda guard averaged 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in his debut season for the Red Cubs. He joins captain Kai Sotto and his fellow Ateneans Geo Chiu and Forthsky Padrigao, Mark Nonoy and Bismarck Lina of UST, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, and Kevin Quiambao of Nazareth-NU, RJ Abarrientos of Far Eastern University, John Amores of JRU, and Jonnel Policarpio of Mapua/Malayan, with Chris Gavina serving as their head coach.

This game, alongside the semifinals and finals of the NBTC National Finals, will be shown on 5Plus, with all the other games being shown online via ESPN5.

The 2019 Chooks-to-Go National Finals presented by SM is sponsored by Darlington-Exped Socks, EPSON, Huawei, Freego, Purefoods, Gatorade, Go for Gold, and Molten, as well as ESPN5 and Lighthouse Events.