"Natuto na kami from last year."
Clint Escamis said that although Mapúa took Game 1 over Benilde in the #NCAA100 Finals, there is still more work to be done in order to bring home the men's basketball crown.
Watch his full interview in this video. #NCAASigloUno #GMASports
Clint Escamis said that although Mapúa took Game 1 over Benilde in the #NCAA100 Finals, there is still more work to be done in order to bring home the men's basketball crown.
Watch his full interview in this video. #NCAASigloUno #GMASports
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00:00Our best player of the game, reigning rookie, MVP, Clint Iskamis, 30 points!
00:07Okay, first 30-point guy, post-pandemic, here in our finals at NCAA.
00:14Brother, how are you? Congratulations.
00:16Yes, of course, it feels good to win, but of course, like Kobe said, job's not finished.
00:22Wow, okay, what an opening here in this interview!
00:27He finished it right away.
00:29That's where this interview ends.
00:31Going into the Game 1 of the finals, so much expectation for you.
00:38You were the leader of this group.
00:40What's on your mind when it comes to this Araneta game 1?
00:45I want to make up for the coming of a runner-up in your last season.
00:50What's your mindset when it comes to this Game 1?
00:54Of course, the maturity. In my first year, we didn't have that.
00:58In my first year in the finals, the pressure was different, with all the lights.
01:02It's just a constant reminder of my coaches to be composed and lead my team.
01:08Then, get my shots as well, and make them involved.
01:12And also, raise their confidence, because a lot of them are rookies, are new to this.
01:16That's why I'm telling them what we've been through.
01:19And that's what we've learned from last year.
01:22Clint, you've already mentioned your shots in this game.
01:25You were highly efficient today, from the field.
01:29You were up and down all throughout the season when it comes to the volume of your shots.
01:33But in Game 1, Dito, you were just in the zone from the very beginning.
01:38Talk about getting into that zone and maintaining it until the very end.
01:43I just did what I did last semifinals, the Final 4.
01:48I just shut down all the noise.
01:50Put my headphones on, put noise cancellation, and put on my favorite tunes.
01:55That's it.
01:56I just avoided the big lights, the interviews.
02:01I just focused on playing.
02:03That's how it's supposed to be.
02:05That's a lot of noise cancellation.
02:07You're in the zone, Clint.
02:09Clint has a lot on his plate today.
02:12Clint, you were telling me earlier, off the air.
02:16You were awakened.
02:17You were awakened from the experience last year.
02:20I know how painful it is for you.
02:23You were in the zone, then you were gone.
02:25And now you're back here in the finals.
02:27Compared to last year, we were expecting our individual shots.
02:34But as you can see now, the team is involved.
02:38There are shots, but it's all part of the coach's system.
02:42It's part of the team's confidence.
02:45That's what makes the system different.
02:48Now that Game 1 is over, you have the upper hand.
02:52What do you think...
02:54Because you still have to prepare.
02:56Yes, of course.
02:57You still have to prepare for this build.
02:58What do you think you can improve to finish this series in Game 2?
03:03Of course, we'll adjust to the build.
03:07And I think, limit their key players.
03:10As you can see, we've been preparing for the whole week.
03:13But they still got their scores, their rebounds.
03:16We really need to polish our game plan.
03:19Especially with their outside scores and their slasher guards.
03:26Clint, I think this venue is a factor for both teams.
03:30You'll either embrace the moment that you're here.
03:34You're playing here inside the big dome.
03:36Or you'll fold under pressure.
03:38You embraced the moment and enjoyed the game.
03:42Talk about the character of this team.
03:44And the things you guys have been through in Season 100.
03:48Even last year, you're still here in Game 1.
03:51Of course, we started last year with the practice.
03:54Since we lost, our morale was really down.
03:56And it takes good coaches, good teammates, good players willing to buy into that system.
04:03It still hurts compared to the last place in the standings.
04:10Because you're only one game away.
04:12We'll build through the seasons, especially the first round.
04:16And here we are in the finals.
04:18Clint, last time I checked, in our stat sheet,
04:22there were 19 steals for the Mapuha Cardinals against Vineyard.
04:26And most of them, you were anticipating passes from cross-court.
04:31Is this one of your preparations for this match?
04:33Yes. What we saw in our last game against them,
04:36the aggressiveness of our defense will win our championship.
04:40So that's what we're aiming for.
04:43Our best offense is our defense.
04:45Clint, this Vineyard team is a very strong team.
04:49Yes.
04:50In our elimination round, we rarely see a team that can be beaten.
04:54They're the ones who are looking for elimination.
04:58Even if they have an advantage, they're quick to catch up.
05:02But you guys did that in many, many stretches in this game.
05:06You had an advantage for a long time.
05:08How were you able to dictate the tempo in this match, even in Game 1?
05:13Of course, we learned from past games that even if it's a 10-point lead,
05:17a 12-point lead, or a 15-point lead,
05:19we shouldn't give up.
05:22We shouldn't be complacent.
05:24Always step on that gas pedal in terms of that.
05:27First of all, it's the finals.
05:28And of course, we have to respect the Vineyard team
05:31because we know how good they are and the coaching staff.
05:34So we have to step on that gas pedal.
05:36I have to mention, because you're the captain of this team,
05:39so you're in charge of your personnel here.
05:42JC Recto.
05:43JC Recto.
05:44We've seen him again.
05:45JC Recto.
05:46We've been waiting for him since Season 100.
05:48Here he is.
05:49He's in the finals.
05:50It's JC Recto time.
05:51Talk about his performance today.
05:53I mean, he improved a lot.
05:55We know that he has some slumps,
05:57but we still have faith in him.
05:59We never lost faith in him.
06:00We never lost confidence in him.
06:02And here we are in the big stage.
06:04Last year, he performed.
06:06I hope he'll mature this year
06:08and improve in his composing.
06:12Okay.
06:13Clint, this is a very familiar situation for you guys
06:15because I think this also happened last year in the finals.
06:18You took game number one,
06:20unable to sustain it in the next two games.
06:24How will you approach, preparation-wise,
06:26how will you approach game number two
06:28based on what you learned from last year?
06:31Of course, block all the noise again.
06:33Block all the unnecessary noise
06:35because last year,
06:37they were expecting us to win game two.
06:39There were a lot of celebratory parties.
06:41But right now, we're just going to focus on playing basketball
06:44and ending that 3-3 draw.
06:46Oh my.
06:47We can already feel this interview because...
06:51For a week, you won't be able to talk.
06:54It's Saturday again.
06:56Clint, a lot of people watched you today.
06:59Take the victory over Benilde.
07:02We're at GMA.
07:03Online, everywhere.
07:05Your opportunity to greet everybody
07:07who watched and supported.
07:09I want to thank God first.
07:11I'm very thankful to Him for the opportunity
07:13that He gave me to play basketball every day.
07:16And to my family, Mommy Carms.
07:19To my dad, Dad Noling.
07:21To my two older brothers,
07:23Kuya Bill and Kuya Mark.
07:25And to my sister, Ate Kim.
07:27To the kids, Drew and Laurel.
07:29Tita Agnes.
07:30And to my girlfriend and her family's girlfriend, Jin.
07:33Thank you for always supporting.
07:35And to our supporters, to the alumni,
07:37to the whole Mapua community,
07:38we're thankful for everything.
07:40And to my Ate Kim, by the way.
07:41There. Okay.
07:42Clint Escamez.
07:44There's a lot, right?
07:45Yes.
07:46There's a lot of praise.
07:47No matter how good you are, there's still a lot of praise.
07:49At the end, you'll know why he got 30 points.
07:52Yes.
07:53That's the last praise.
07:55That's the crucial part, bro.
07:56Okay.
07:57Clint Escamez with 30 points today.
08:00A signature performance here in the NCAA.