UAAP: Past heartaches fueling UP Fighting Maroons in Finals return

UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four against UST Growling Tigers. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons gets another shot at redemption after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the past two years that still haunt them to this day.

UP turned to reliable and seasoned guards Harold Alarcon and Reyland Torres to eliminate the University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s Final Four on Saturday for their fourth straight Finals appearance.

In the school’s fifth Finals stint in six seasons, Torres and Alarcon admitted they still raring to redeem themselves from a heartbreaking Finals loss to La Salle last year. 

RESULTS:  UAAP Season 87 basketball Final Four November 30

“Maybe the loss we experienced last season was really painful, and we think about it every day during practice and games to use it as motivation,” said Torres, who scored 13 points, including 3-of-3 from three-point range, and grabbed seven rebounds.

“Our mindset is to always be ready, no matter who our opponent is, because that’s what Coach Gold always tells us—to give everything we have and do our best against anyone,” he added.

Alarcon, who poured in eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead UP, believes their previous championship losses — including their Season 85 Finals loss to Ateneo — made them hungrier and stronger in their pursuit of bringing back the crown they earned in a magical Season 84 title run in May 2022.

UP Fighting Maroons guard Harold Alarcon vs UST in UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four.–UAAP PHOTO

“Those kinds of losses, those failures, are also a big help for us as a team and as players because that’s where we grow. That’s where we learn from our mistakes. That’s where our character as a team develops even more,” said Alarcon.

“We’re not expecting anything, but we’ll prepare and be ready for everything that will happen in the Finals. What happened to us in the last two Finals as runners-up was painful. Let’s see what happens this season.”

READ: UAAP: UP makes fourth straight finals, knocks off UST

The fourth-year guard added that UST’s tough challenge helped them to boost their confidence moving to the Finals against the winner of the twice-to-beat La Salle and Adamson.

“The game turned out great because of the tough challenge they gave us. We saw how we responded to those situations, how we became solid and played as a team,” said Alarcon. “That experience helped us as we head into the Finals. Facing adversities and dealing with things not going our way—how we handle those situations will really help us.”

Torres was grateful that he made timely triples in the third, helping UP gain momentum against UST, led by Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao.

“My shots just happened and I think they gave me confidence,” said Torres. “Coach Gold told me to trust myself—if I get an open shot, just take it.”

“It was really tough because, as we know, Forthsky comes from a championship team, and Cabañero is both physical and a scoring leader. They gave us a good challenge and solid preparation.”