UP Fighting Maroons' Harold Alarcon. UAAP Media
MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines (UP) star Harold Alarcon believes that the team is building its character amid failures and adversities.
Although the Fighting Maroons are on their way to their fourth straight UAAP Finals, they only won one championship out of the last three—their breakthrough crown in Season 84, ending a 36-year title drought.
They settled for silver medal finishes in Seasons 85 and 86 after falling to Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University in the Finals, respectively.
But for Alarcon, this has fueled them to be better and get collected—as players and as a team—inside the court.
"'Yung mga talong ganon, mga failures, big help din sa amin as a team and as a player kasi dun kami maggo-grow e. Dun kami magle-learn sa mga mistakes namin. Dun pa mas lalo nade-develop 'yung character namin as a team," said Alarcon after powering UP to a 78-69 beating of University of Santo Tomas on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
READ: UAAP: Alarcon waxes hot in the second half as UP makes Finals return at UST’s expense
"Nakita namin kung paano kami mag-respond sa mga ganu'ng sitwasyon, pa'no kami naging buo, naging team pa sa loob. Nakatulong sa 'min 'yun papasok sa Finals, na nangyari sa 'min 'yon, may mga adversity, may mga hindi okay na nangyayari," he went on.
"The way na i-handle namin 'yung mga ganu'ng bagay, makakatulong siya sa 'min papasok sa Finals."
Alarcon, a game after dropping a career-high 33 points, tallied 16 points—eight of those in the fourth canto, firing crucial baskets to keep the separation into their favor.
READ: UAAP: Alarcon carries UP past UE to end elims on sweet note
But his explosion did not come easy, as the 6-foot-1 guard overcame a slow start, only scoring two points in the first half.
Alarcon said he had to adjust to the defense UST gave him—and he succeeded.
"Nung first half, parang inamin ko sa sarili ko [na] parang pilit 'yung first half ko eh, kaya parang 'di napupunta sa 'kin. So nag-adjust ako second half, kung ano'ng binibigay nila sa 'kin, naghahanap lang ako ng paraan," he said.
He said the Fighting Maroons will be ready for whoever reaches the Finals, which is likely to be the top-seed Green Archers—if ever, a repeat of the Season 86 championship match.
As of writing, in-form La Salle is leading over Adamson University in the second quarter, 28-17.
"Siguro para sa 'kin, expect nothing na lang pero magpe-prepare, magiging ready lang kami for everything na mangyayari sa Finals. 'Yun nga, masakit 'yung nangyari sa amin nung dalawang Finals na runner-up. Tingnan na lang natin this season," said Alarcon.
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