The UP Fighting Maroons play catch up in back-to-back games in UAAP Season 87 after sluggish starts.
UP veteran Harold Alarcon had choice words for the UP Fighting Maroons as they endured another slow start, this time against the UST Growling Tigers in their penultimate first round game in UAAP Season 87 on Wednesday.
[READ: UAAP: Francis Lopez, UP pull away against UST for 6-0 record in Season 87]
Trailing until the halftime break against a very capable UST side, Alarcon said that the Fighting Maroons were missing a key trait in the early goings of the game – similar to what happened against Adamson last weekend.
In both instances, the Fighting Maroons had to dig deep to flip the script and come out with the double-digit win in the end. But as the competition gets tighter as the season goes on, it’s a practice that can no longer be observed.
“Kanina na-mention ni Coach Gold [Monteverde] parang ‘yung start ng quarter parang hindi kami naglalaro ng with instinct eh.” Alarcon lamented.
“Every possession tumitingin kami sa bench kung anong gagawin, hindi kami ganon [maglaro] eh.”
It didn’t help that one of UP’s pillars in JD Cagulangan felt under the weather during their game against the Growling Tigers, which meant that he did not see action.
But Alarcon wasn’t one to make excuses as he also underscored the depth of the UP team. With talent across the board, he said there was no other choice but to step up.
“‘Yung isa pa, malaking kawalan si Maimai kasi syempre isa siya sa bagay na ‘yun na ano pero hindi siya excuse para sa amin na ipakita kung ano ‘yung kakayahan ng bawat isa sa amin,” said Alarcon.
“Kasi honestly talented talaga kami as a team and hanapin lang namin yung mga kanto kung saan kami pwede mag-improve.” he added.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez also mirrored the sentiments, and added that the team needs to focus on their defense.
Even with the offensive firepower of the Fighting Maroons, not all shots are going to fall all the time. So the second-year player emphasized being a two-way player.
“As you've said, we were starting slow for the past two games. For us, I think it's defense that brought us back. Our shots weren't falling but you gotta continue.” said Lopez.
The Fighting Maroons will be hoping to come out pouncing in their next game as they face arguably their biggest challenge this year.
UP faces the DLSU Green Archers in a rematch of last year’s finals in the closing game of Round 1 on Sunday, October 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.