The last thing that the Mapua Cardinals wanted was to have a premature celebration after nailing Game 1 of their best-of-three finals affair against the San Beda Red Lions in NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball.

For graduating senior and skipper Warren Bonifacio, their 68-63 triumph last Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena would serve as a morale boost heading to the critical Game 2.

“Dahil lang may isang game na kailangang ipanalo, hindi pa kami ganung ka-happy dahil hindi pa naman tapos eh,” said Bonifacio.

“Yung pressure, andyan pa rin. Hindi pa natatapos yung series. Kung anong ginawa namin (today), kailangang i-doble o i-triple pa namin sa Game 2,” he added.

Bonifacio, however, admitted the win further ignited their drive to quench the team’s thirst of ending their 32-year title drought in the country’s oldest collegiate league.

“Gutom kami na manalo eh. Enough motivation na yung 32 years for Mapua. Kailangang ibigay na namin lahat-lahat,” he said.

It would be a bittersweet swansong for Bonifacio, who suited up for the Cardinals for five years and experienced the ups and downs of the squad including the finals defeat against Letran in Season 97 and their seventh place finish just last season.

But for now, his focus is to deliver in whatever capacity he can.

“Even ako kahit medyo maalat yung offense ko [ngayon] bumabawi ako sa defense, so kung anong yung pwede kong macontribute sa team, kahit mag-sacrifice ako sa offense ko, basta manalo para sa team," said Bonifacio, who was selected by the Magnolia Hotshots in the fifth round of this year’s PBA Rookie Draft.

Aside from Bonifacio, Palo Hernandez and Clint Escamis also vowed to give their coach Randy Alcantara a seniors championship as they did in their junior years.

Alcantara was actually part of the Mapua team that won in 1991, playing with Chito Victolero and Benny Cheng against San Beda as well, where they won back-to-back titles under head tactician Joel Banal.

Since then, Mapua has yet to win another title.

But the long wait could finally be over.

Game 2 will be on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the same venue.