MANILA, Philippines – Even with reigning Most Valuable Player Will Gozum in foul trouble, the Mapua University Red Robins still had enough to outgun College of St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills, 91-81, and keep their title defense alive in the NCAA Season 93 juniors finals.

The pair of Clint Escamis and Warren Bonifacio stepped up for Mapua, as they dominated the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.

With the victory, the defending champions Red Robins forced a winner-takes-all Game 3, scheduled for Tuesday at the Big Dome.

"Buti na lang, composed 'yung mga bata," said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara, whose team lost Game 1, 74-68, last Friday. "Siguro nga, mas gusto namin ngayon."

"Mas malaki ang puso ng mga naglaro ngayon. Pinapakita lang nila kung anong character meron ang isang champion team," he added.

• READ: LSGH makes more magic happen, takes Game 1 from Mapua

Escamis had a game-high 25 points, 10 of which came in the payoff period as he put the finishing touches on the win with a couple of daring drives that took the fight out of the Junior Blazers. Bonifacio struggled from the field, making only four of his 14 shots, but he converted 10 of his 14 free throws to finish with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Escamis and Bonifacio, along with Erick Jabel, took charge in the fourth quarter after Gozum fouled out with still 9:30 left to play. With the three players taking charge, the Red Robins outscored the Junior Blazers, 24-14, to finally break the game open.

It was due to Gozum's foul trouble that LSGH managed to get back in the game in the third quarter. With the Mapua big man out, the Junior Blazers had an open lane to the rim, and Joel Cagulangan, Mark Sangco, and Ladis Lepalam responded by scoring inside the paint.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Cagulangan tied the game at 67 heading into the payoff period, and it looked as though momentum was firmly on LSGH's side after Gozum was called for his fourth foul just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter.

"Pero magic bunot nga, sabi nila. May ready ako na Dennison," he said.

Alcantara was referring to Grant Dennison, who came in for Gozum and immediately knocked down a triple. Jabel and Escamis then took over, anchoring an 11-1 run that broke the deadlock and turned it into a 78-68 advantage for the Red Robins.

"Sinabi ko lang, stay aggressive and play it possession by possession," Alcantara said.

LSGH threatened for the last time when Macoy Marcos drilled a triple that cut the deficit to five, 86-81, with still 1:23 left. Unfortunately for the Junior Blazers, they had no answer for Escamis, who knifed to the lane on back-to-back possessions for easy buckets.

"Sabi ni coach, give it all na talaga, kung 'di, wala, tapos na season namin. So ginawa ko lang talaga," said the 17-year-old Escamis.

Gozum finished with 10 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes, while Jabel finished with 17 points in the game.

Cagulangan had 16 points and nine assists, but also committed 10 markers. Joshua David and Marcos each scored 12 points, but the Junior Blazers clearly missed the presence of Rookie of the Year Inand Fornillos, who was suspended for one game after incurring a disqualifying foul in Game 1.

The scores:

MAPUA 91 – Escamis 25, Bonifacio 18, Jabel 17, Goum 10, Garcia 8, Enriquez 6, Lacap 4, Dennison 3, Ramos 0, Sarias 0, Socias 0

CSB-LSGH 81 – Cagulangan 16, David 12, Marcos 12, Lepalam 10, Mosqueda 9, Perez 9, Sangco 5, Morales 4, Lao 4, Belgica 0, Pedrosa 0, Dela Cruz 0, Cruz 0

Quarter scores: 25-19, 55-46, 67-67, 91-81

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.