Harold Alarcon, Roma Mae Doromal stay together through highs and lows

Power couple: UP star Harold Alarcon and PVL player Roma Mae Doromal. – Roma Mae Doromal Instagram, Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines —As Harold Alarcon celebrated University of the Philippines’ successful title-redemption tour last December, he was surrounded by his teammates, his family and loved ones, including his girlfriend Roma Mae Doromal.

Doromal, wearing a Fighting Maroons jersey that bore the surname of his partner, was part of the frenzied crowd of 25,248 that witnessed Alarcon and the Fighting Maroons rise to the top of the UAAP men’s basketball.

READ: UAAP: UP guard Harold Alarcon coming back for one final year

Alarcon expressed his appreciation to the former Ateneo women’s volleyball team captain, who has been attendance for him almost every game at the UAAP venues.

“I’m so happy because she was there for me during my lowest moments,” Alarcon told Inquirer Sports shortly after winning the title. “Last season, she was there to comfort me, and now, she’s here to celebrate with me.”

The 22-year-old Fighting Maroon has been raring to end the years of heart even before the season started. They were sent to the same situation as the past two seasons, failing to close out the series in Game 2.

READ: Roma Mae Doromal brings leadership to her PVL team

But Alarcon and his team didn’t waver this time, using their courage to slay the ghosts of their past and finally reclaim what they lost after Season 84’s epic title run two years ago. 

“It feels amazing, especially coming from a loss and now being champions,” Alarcon said. “We showed a lot of courage facing those challenges, even pushing it to Game 3. Almost all our losses went to a Game 3. For some, that can bring fear and doubt, but we faced it head-on. We had the courage to fight through.”

As their love story continues, Alarcon continues to support Doromal, watching the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference games at Philsports Arena.

Doromal has been protecting Capital1’s floor despite losing nine of their last 10 games. It’s still a long season to go for the PVL rookie and the Solar Spikers as they face a higher rank in the qualifying round, where six quarterfinal slots are up for grabs.

There is also a play-in round for the last two quarterfinal tickets.