MANILA – Negrense Harold Alarcon is motivated to lead the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball crown in Game 3 of the Finals against De La Salle University Green Archers tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
According to the Silay City, Negros Occidental-native guard, the Fighting Maroons are using their heartbreaking loss to Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last year as a motivation to bag their second crown in the last three seasons.
“Nandun pa ‘yung sakit ng pagkatalo namin sa Ateneo last season. But we just have to keep the fire burning when you experience such heartbreaking loss,” Alarcon said.
The Fighting Maroons took Game 1 of the UAAP Season 85 finals last year before surrendering Games 2 and 3 to the Blue Eagles, failing to retain the championship they won in Season 84 earlier last year.
UP is in the same situation this year as they won Game 1 against DLSU, 97-67, before losing to the Green Archers in Game 2, 82-60, setting up for a do-or-die game tonight.
The former Bacolod Tay Tung High School guard admitted that the Fighting Maroons were a bit selfish during their UAAP Season 85 campaign, but that has changed this season.
“Siguro ‘yung nakuha ko last season individual kasi halos lahat last season and nakikita halos kami lahat. Ngayon, team effort na. Yung trust andon sa bawat isa,” Alarcon said.
Alarcon added that, as one of the veteran players in the team, he always makes sure to guide his mostly rookie teammates through his actions in practice and games.
“I’m guiding them through my actions. If they see that I work hard in practice, they follow. I also give them a constant reminder not to let up,” Alarcon said.
The Goldwyn Monteverde-mentored Fighting Maroons are aiming for their fourth UAAP championship, including their co-champion year during the second season of the collegiate league./PN
