AFTER runner-up finishes in the last two seasons, University of the Philippines is raring to finally hit paydirt when the 87th UAAP basketball tournament comes off the wraps this Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Masakit siya, dalawang runner-up, dalawang Game 3 (finals) na natalo kami sa huli,” prized Fighting Maroons guard Harold Alarcon said yesterday during the new season’s launch at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“Isang motivation sa akin kasi alam mo iyon, iyong feeling, iyong parang masakit (kasi) nandiyan pa rin kaya siguro gigil kami makuha ngayon,” he added.
UP failed to retain its title and fell to Ateneo in the 85th season while the squad lost last season to La Salle–both in winner-take-all Game 3s.
The 6-foot-1 Alarcon tempered expectations for the Maroons, saying: “Sinasabi lang namin sa bawat isa no expectations at every game iisipin lang na ibigay lang iyong best namin.”
The Katipunan-based crew’s preparations included overseas training camps in Serbia, South Korea and recently in Taiwan.
Blue chip transferees Gani Stevens and Fil-Am big man Quentin Millora-Brown are expected to boost the Maroons’ drive.
“This past few weeks, iyong preparation namin outside the country malaking tulong and iyon nga, iyong pagkawala ng ibang players (like) sina CJ (Cansino), sina Malick (Diouf) may pumalit naman,” Alarcon said.
“Iyong pumapalit naman kay CJ halos lahat naman parang kayang mag-step up sa team,” added Alarcon, who has been tasked, along with JD Cagulangan, Janjan Felicilda, Terrence Fortea, Gerry Abadiano and Reyland Torres, to lead UP.
The Maroons take on the Blue Eagles in an early “Battle of Katipunan” on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
“Masasabi ko ready kami sa Saturday na game. Iyong preparation namin parang nandiyan na kahit character, kahit sa team nandiyan,” Alarcon said.
