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MVP, champ Escamis suffers miserable NCAA career end; Benilde dethrones Mapua
The College of St. Benilde Blazers defeated the Mapua Cardinals, 74-72, to dethrone the reigning champions and advance to the NCAA Season 101 men's basketball semifinals.
The Blazers' victory was largely due to their effective defensive strategy against Mapua's star player, Clint Escamis, who struggled significantly throughout the series.
Escamis, the Season 99 MVP and Season 100 Finals MVP, ended his collegiate career with dismal averages of 2.5 points per game on 0-of-16 shooting from the field across the two quarterfinals games.
He was further hampered by a disqualifying foul in the third quarter of Game 2, finishing that game with only three points on 0-of-6 shooting.
Raffy Celis paced the Blazers with 18 points, while Ian Torres and Tony Ynot contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Blazers will now face San Beda in the best-of-three semifinals.
This quarterfinals ouster marks the first time a reigning champion has failed to reach the semifinals since the Letran Knights in Season 99.
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The College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers and the Letran Knights secured the final two semifinal berths in the NCAA Season 101.
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St. Benilde secured a twice-to-beat advantage in Group B of the NCAA Season 101 men's basketball tournament by defeating Emilio Aguinaldo College, 87-82.
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