It can’t all be Harold: UP coach calls for more contributions in Game 2

MANILA, Philippines – UP rode Harold Alarcon’s heroics in Game 1. They are not betting the season on that again in Game 2. 

After their 74-70 loss to La Salle, UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde challenged his crew to step up and spread the scoring in the do-or-die Game 2 for the Fighting Maroons. 

“Whatever Harold did for us for this game, we need that. It’s just that as a team, they need to contribute. It’s not just him,” Monteverde said in Filipino, following Alarcon’s 34-point explosion that went for naught in Game 1. 

“I think the 34 points, of course, the team needs it. But it’s not just Harold who would win these finals for us. It should take a team to be able to overcome whatever we’re facing in terms of offense,” he added. 

Alarcon went 12-of-22 from the field and 10-of-17 inside the arc, while the rest of the defending champions combined for just 16-of-41 in the Game 1 loss.

He also dropped 20 in the first half, added 6 in the third, and tacked on 8 more in the fourth. The rest of the UP squad mustered only 4 points in the final frame as La Salle ran away with a 21 -12 closing burst.

Aside from Alarcon, only Francis Nnoruka cracked double digits for UP, delivering 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbing 6 boards.

Having been outplayed by La Salle down the stretch, Monteverde said his players need to prove they want it more every time they step on the floor.

“For me, every finals game, we should want it more, especially on the defensive end. We need to be stronger,” Monteverde said. “We need to toughen up even on offensive rebounding and stuff. I believe that there were certain parts of the game that we played well, but then we just need to be consistent about what we’re doing on both ends.”

This is UP’s fifth straight UAAP finals appearance under Monteverde, who took over the head coaching post in Season 84, the season they broke their 36-year title drought. 

Season 88’s finals also marked the third consecutive year La Salle and UP faced off in the men’s basketball finals. 

Still having some of the players from his first season as UP coach — including Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano —  Monteverde kept his full trust in the Fighting Maroons’ chances to go back-to-back this year. 

“So far, I’m confident. I really trust the team that they will bounce back from this. Learn from this, definitely. We’re still positive,” he said. 

UP won Game 1 of the past two season finales against La Salle. In Season 86, the Fighting Maroons succumbed to the then-Kevin Quiambao-led Green Archers before completing their redemption bid in Season 87. 

Earlier this season, the Fighting Maroons also started on the wrong foot, going 0-2 to start the tournament before rising to the second seed after the elimination round. 

Banking on UP’s resilience, Monteverde vowed to roll out key adjustments for Sunday’s Game 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s important for us in every game that everyone is going to the game ready. Whatever we face, we’ll fight for it. So, adjustment will come in the second game,” he said.

“This is not the first time we lost…We just have to remind ourselves that we started the season 0-2. I believe our team knows how to bounce back. We just lost a battle, but the war is not over yet. We still have two games left.” – Rappler.com