University of the Philippines has faced two straight seasons of heartbreak in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals.
The Fighting Maroons ended a 36-year title drought in Season 84 by defeating the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a thrilling three-game series – highlighted by JD Cagulangan’s championship-winning triple in overtime of Game 3.
The next season, though, they saw their reign cut short.
Ateneo bounced back in Season 85 to reclaim the throne in a three-game series.
The pain continued for UP in Season 86 as the De La Salle Green Archers – after suffering a 30-point defeat in Game 1 of the Finals – rallied to win Games 2 and 3.
That left UP with another runner-up finish.
This Season 87, however, the Fighting Maroons have set their sights on redemption.
On Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, UP secured a spot in its fourth consecutive championship series by defeating the University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four.
For Harold Alarcon, who has been with UP since Season 84, it’s time to rewrite their story.
“’Yun nga, masakit ‘yung nangyari sa amin nung dalawang Finals na runner-up. Tingnan na lang natin this season,” Alarcon said.
Head coach Goldwin Monteverde echoed his sentiments, saying, “Sa amin naman, from last season, yung nangyari sa last season, we took that to heart sa first practice pa lang. We as a team, ‘yung goal namin is to take it one game at a time.
“Ngayon, nandito na kami. Yan ang maganda sa finals, mag-start kami ng 0-0. It’s a best-of-3 series. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing our best.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UP will face the winner between the twice-to-beat La Salle and Adamson University in the best-of-three Finals.
Alarcon has been in stellar form lately, providing a boost for the Fighting Maroons as they prepare for another grueling Finals appearance.
The 6-foot-1 guard from National University Nazareth School ended the elimination round with a career-best 33 points against University of the East, including 16 in the fourth quarter.
He followed it up with a 16-point performance against UST, scoring 14 in the second half after going 0-of-3 in the first half.
“Siguro boost ulit siya ng confidence papasok sa Finals. Kailangan ko din ‘yon and kailangan din namin ng team namin ‘yon na parang ‘pag may mga ganong sitwasyon, parang ready lang kami sa mga ibibigay sa amin ng defense,” said Alarcon.
“I mean nung first half, parang inamin ko sa sarili ko na parang pilit ‘yung first half ko eh, kaya parang ‘di napupunta sa akin. So nag-adjust nung ako second half, kung anong binibigay nila sa’kin, naghahanap lang ako ng paraan, ‘yun lang.”
