AFTER struggling in Mapua’s past few games, Clint Escamis finally got his rhythm back just in time to tow the Cardinals past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 85-78, in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.

On Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena, Escamis flaunted his Season 100 Finals MVP form to boost the defending champions out of their three-game losing skid

“Para sa’kin talaga, I think everything has a purpose. Kinailangan namin pagdaananan yung three game-streak and naging maganda ‘yong kinalabasan,” he said.

“We had talks, we did everything, we settled things with our team chemistry at nagbunga ngayon.”

The dynamic guard posted 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals to push Mapua to a 4-4 card in Group A.

In the Cardinals’ previous 66-63 loss to Jose Rizal University, Escamis turned in a lowly two-point outing.

Mapua’s ace also struggled prior to their loss to the Heavy Bombers as he registered a forgettable 36.4 percent field goal shooting clip in the Cardinals’ 85-82 overtime loss to Letran. He finished with only 14 markers in that defeat.

Helping Escamis push Mapua out of the hump were Cyril Gonzales and Yam Concepcion, who finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively. JC Recto, meanwhile, flirted with a double-double after tallying 11 points and nine rebounds.

On the other end, the Generals continued their up and down season as they dropped to a 4-5 record in Group B.

Brianne Angeles led EAC with 13 points and six rebounds while Jude Bagay’s 12-point outing was also put to waste.

The scores:

MAPÚA 85 – Escamis 20, Gonzales 14, Concepcion 13, Recto 11, Sapasap 10, Igliane 6, Cuenco 5, Nitura 2, Delos Reyes 2, Callangan 2, Ryan 0, Lazarte 0

EAC 78 – Angeles 13, Bagay 12, Lucero 11, Castillo 10, Quinal 5, Doria 5, Shanoda 4, Postanes 4, Tolentino 4, Omandac 3, Bacud 3, Loristo 2, Villarente 2, Ochavo 0, Dominguez 0