Fourth-year guard Harold Alarcon picks the perfect time to bounce back for the UP Fighting Maroons as they cap off their UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball eliminations.
Harold Alarcon played like a man possessed on Wednesday as the UP Fighting Maroons closed out their UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball eliminations against the UE Red Warriors at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The fourth-year guard fired for a career-high 33 points against UE, built on 12 of 17 shooting (70.6 percent) that included five out of eight triples made. Sixteen of Alarcon’s points alone came in the fourth quarter, which included crucial baskets that successfully kept the Red Warriors at bay.
With this, Alarcon has tied Kevin Quiambao’s 33-point outing last October 26 against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, while becoming the first Fighting Maroon since Juan Gomez de Liaño in Season 81 to breach the 30-point mark according to league statistician Pong Ducanes.
“Siguro, chamba lang ‘yan. Parang ‘yung defense binibigay sa akin ganon. Pag free, kinukuha ko naman. Tapos, kapag nakikita kong nashushoot, tinatry ko pa rin, baka ulit mashoot. So, nashushoot naman yung tira ko,” Alarcon said during the post-game press conference.
More than a career-high, Alarcon’s 33 points is also a return to form after being limited in UP’s last three games. The fourth-year guard settled for three points against the FEU Tamaraws last November 16, and two points in their losses to the NU Bulldogs and La Salle Green Archers, and was limited to a combined 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) shooting.
“Last three games ‘yung confidence ko, parang shaky. Siguro, sa game na ito, parang naipon na lang ‘ past three games kaya big help na rin sa sarili ko and sa mentality. Big boost siya papunta sa Final Four,” the Silay City native said in a follow-up.
His career-high night also allows UP to enter the Final Four with momentum, having ended eliminations on a two-game winning streak. In doing so, they will also start off on the right foot in their hopes of sending off the graduating JD Cagulangan with another UAAP title in his final year.
“Malaking bagay talaga siya, lalo na para kay Maimai [JD Cagulangan], inaalay namin ang season na ito para kay Maimai. Yun nga, palaging nire-remind niya na last season niya, gusto niya pumasok sa Final Four na ang momentum ay okay. Kaya last games kailangan talagang manalo,” the former NU Bullpup said.
While they are eager to play in the Final Four, Alarcon knows that UP will also bring composure and maturity brought about by their veterans including himself, Cagulangan, and team captain Gerry Abadiano.
“Gigil kasi last two seasons talo kami, pero ‘yung composure namin, nandyan. ‘Yung maturity, dala ni Maimai, ni Gerry [Abadiano], pati na ng veterans, napapasa sa players. Mahirap rin pag sobrang gigil. Hindi ko na masyadong nakakapag-isip pa,” he reflected.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.