FEU Tamaraws’ Veejay Pre and Royce Alforque during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against NU Bulldogs. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines —Royce Alforque made sure there would be no meltdown this time around for Far Eastern University.
Alforque conspired with Jorick Bautista in the crucial moments to help register the Tamaraws’ first winning streak of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament and avenge their first-round loss to the Bulldogs.
In their last meeting last September 14, FEU blew a 13-point lead for a heartbreaking 62-60 loss highlighted by missed crucial free throws from rookie Janrey Pasaol.
READ: UAAP: FEU Tamaraws score first back-to-back wins of the season
“When NU was catching up, we just told ourselves not to give up and to take it possession by possession, and it paid off,” said Alforque after the 65-58 win over NU on Wednesday. “We thank coach Sean for trusting us to play freely within the system.”
When NU cut down the lead to 57-56 down the stretch, Alforque drilled a floater and a hook shot to restore the order, 61-56, before Bautista put on the finishing touches including a dagger three with 10.4 seconds left.
“It was just instinct because Jorick was being denied, so the ball came to me, and I had to think of a way,” said Alforque, who tallied nine points and seven rebounds.
“NU was still on the run, so we needed to stop their momentum.”
READ: UAAP: Sean Chambers preaches warrior mentality to young Tamaraws
With a few more games left in his final year with FEU, Alforque wants to avoid more heartbreaks and it starts with priming the future leaders of the team.
“Especially for me, since it’s my last year, I’m really pushing the younger guys, like Janrey, Jed [Daa], and Veejay [Pre]. We knew what to do this time, and we did our part after falling short several times in the first round,” he said.
With a 3-6 record, Alforque believes that the Tamaraws are already finding their groove as Chambers expected his te
“We see the hard work we’ve put in. I talk with my fellow veterans, Jorick, Cholo [Añonuevo], Aeron [Bagunu], and [Miguel] Ona. I tell them we need to show it because the younger players are looking at us. We lead by example,” said Alforque.
“As long as there’s time, there’s still hope.”