CARDINALS RULE

With 36 seconds left, Clint Escamis and the Mapua Cardinals were already shedding tears of joy and celebrating, knowing the NCAA championship they have long dreamed of was within grasp.

- By JOEY VILLAR

And after the seconds ticked to the last, Mapua can now rest easy as the long 33-year wait was finally over. Glory came as the NCAA celebrated its 100th year.

It was signed, sealed and delivered in the form of a 94-82 victory over the St. Benilde Blazers yesterday for a 2-0 sweep of the series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where Mapua's faithful, red-and-gold-clad fans celebrated ecstatically.

Escamis and the rest of the Mapua team, with tears in their eyes, poured into center court as they claimed their first seniors crown since 1991, and Mapua's sixth title overall.