Widely-followed multimedia content creator Naveen Ganglani wrote on X (Formerly Twitter) shortly after De La Salle University’s emphatic 82-60 win over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Finals:
“People used to ask why Francis Escandor had a roster spot. Today he led all Archers in scoring in GAME 2 OF THE UAAP FINALS. His 3s broke the game open for La Salle in the 2nd. What a development journey.”
The man behind “The Navs Effect” podcast couldn’t have put it any other way. He just nailed it.
Our boy from Davao City, who blossomed from a lumbering chubby kid to a muscle-bound marksman, indeed came up with the game of his life.
The six-foot-two son of Davao businessman and sports patron Glenn Escandor led all La Salle scorers with 14 points missing only once from beyond the arc and sinking four. Two of those were the rallying point of the Green Archers and the last one was the icing on the cake in the fourth.
On his last playing year as a senior, Ef knows Game 2 could be his last UAAP game and he needed one helluva game that will last a lifetime. That as assuming UP would go on to annex the crown last Sunday.
La Salle won and Escandor got the “fitting finale” he always wanted.
But it won’t be the finale. La Salle lived to fight another day and Escandor, now nicknamed “Trescandor” by fans, will have another chance to say goodbye with a title.
It has been a big turnaround for our boy. Ef was coming off a frustrating season under coach Derek Pumaren where he suited up for only three games. Most of which came during garbage time when the outcome was beyond doubt. Ef would be the last player checking in and even if he shoots a three, it would be inconsequential.
This year, Topex Robinson took over from Pumaren and Escandor became a starter right on the first game of the season. He did not disappoint as he scored La Salle’s first basket and finished with 11 markers. He would then rank as the fifth top Green Archer in minutes played with 15.36 minutes per game.
Through it all, Ef has remained humble and kept a low key despite his heroics in Game 2.
I remember his father say he needs a bit of flamboyance. I know Glenn meant confidence but he wanted to add a bit more pizzazz. I saw the confidence in Game 2 and a little bit of flamboyance in the celebratory motions. I know he needed that. Just as if to say, hey I belong here.
Now people know why he has a roster spot.
