Returning Joaqui Garcia out to bolster Mapua in redemption campaign come NCAA Season 100

Published March 13, 2024 8:30pm

Updated March 13, 2024 8:30pm

Joaqui Garcia was reduced to a spectator when Mapua University endured a heartbreaking finals loss to San Beda University in the NCAA Season 98 last December following a preseason injury he sustained days before the league started.

But knowing how hard his teammates and coaches prepared for the season, the 24-year-old guard said he knew how painful the defeat was.

And with his anticipated return next season, Garcia is on a mission to help lead the Cardinals in settling some unfinished business.

“‘Yung last season kasi parang heartbreak season para sa amin kasi one game away na lang kami sa championship lalo na they finished 15-3 sa elims so parang history ‘yun sa Mapua. Pero na twice-to-beat kami ng San Beda so sobrang sakit no’n sa amin,” Garcia told GMA News Online during Mapua’s visit at the GMA headquarters for the GMA Masterclass.

“Ito ‘yung season na redemption season kasi babawi talaga kami.”

[Last season was a heartbreak season because we were one game away from the championship, and especially after they finished 15-3 in the elims so that was history for Mapua. But we were beaten twice by San Beda so that hurt for us… This season is our redemption season because we’ll come back.]

Garcia, who injured his right ankle and was ruled out last season, shared that he has yet to regain his full health but he is eager make a comeback for coach Randy Alcantara.

His return could also be a huge boost for Mapua, especially with the exits of veteran shooting guard Paolo Hernandez and graduating team captain Warren Bonifacio. Mapua also bid goodbye to rising guard Peter Rosillo, who has transferred to Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

But Garcia is excited to team up once again with a very familiar face in teammate Clint Escamis.

Both players were part of the Mapua juniors basketball team that won the NCAA Season 92 title in 2016, which also ended San Beda Red Cubs’ seven-year reign in the high school ranks. Last season, with Garcia out, Escamis was named NCAA Season 99 MVP.

“Si Clint naman and ako sobrang close namin kahit dati pa, high school pa lang kami,” the 5-foot-10 Garcia said.

“Same din kami ng pinanggalingan sa Parañaque so we’ve known each other for the long time na so may mga moves sa court na talagang gamay na gamay na namin kasi ang tagal na namin magkasama.”

[Clint and I are very close since our time in high school… We also both come from Parañaque so we’ve known each other for a long time. We have moves on the court that we know so well because of how long we’ve played together.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News