Harold Alarcon was no doubt the hero in University of the Philippines’ win over University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday.
But if you ask Alarcon, UP coach Goldwin Monteverde also played a big factor in the crucial victory
‘Coach Gold talked to us properly in the dugout and said we did so many things that were off in the first half,’ he said.
‘He told us to adjust as soon as we entered the second half.’
Alarcon and the Fighting Maroons took Monteverde’s words to heart.
Down 15 early, UP quickly pulled within two by halftime as both teams went back-and-forth the rest of the way. And in the fourth, it was Alarcon who took over.
‘In that fourth quarter, I just thought that whatever kind of defense they give me, I’ll take it,’ he said.
‘Whoever was defending me, I just thought that I’ll shoot it.’
Alarcon scored his team’s last seven points to finish with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists to push UP to solo second with a 7-3 record.