MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines guard Harold Alarcon is using their back-to-back championship heartbreaks as fuel to get back to the top in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

Alarcon was a vital part of UP’s two consecutive runner-up finishes where the Fighting Maroons lost in do-or-die Finals Game 3 against Ateneo two years ago and reigning champion La Salle last year.

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“Masakit siya, dalawang runner-up, dalawang Game 3 (finals) natatalo kami sa huli. Isang motivation sya sa akin kasi alam mo iyon, iyong feeling, iyong parang masakit (kasi) andiyan pa rin kaya siguro gigil kami makuha ngayon,” the fourth-year guard player.

READ: UAAP Season 87 tips off with Ateneo-UP clash

Raring to regain the crown it last won in Season 84, Alarcon said the Maroons will take it one game at a time to ease up their team from the high expectations.

“Sinasabi lang namin sa bawat isa no expectations at every game iisipin lang na ibigay lang yung best,” he said. 

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Armed with their training camps in Serbia, Korea, and Taiwan, coach Goldwin Monteverde is parading a stacked roster bannered by Alarcon, JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, Gerry Abadiano, Aldous Torculas, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres.

“It’s gonna be competitive. Lahat ng team para sa akin, malakas. Lahat ng coaches, magaganda programa. So, kailangan every game pagpreparahan,” said Monteverde. “Every game, dapat may gigil. Hindi kami pwedeng mawalan ng gigil kasi dapat yung hunger namin on getting back and try to achieve yung ultimate goal namin, we need that hunger na hindi pwedeng mawala sa amin.”

READ: Fil-Am Jacob Bayla boosts UP title bid in UAAP Season 87

UP lost Malick Diouf and CJ Casino after exhausting their playing years last season but UP will welcome newcomers Jacob Bayla, Quentin Millora-Brown, Dikachi Ududo, and transferee Gani Stevens.

“This past few weeks, iyong preparation namin outside the country malaking tulong siya. Yung pagkawala ng ibang players sina CJ, sina Malick may pumalit naman. Halos lahat naman parang kayang mag-step up sa team,” Alarcon said.

UP opens Season 87 against rival Ateneo on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum after the opening ceremonies, highlighted by the Eraserheads’ reunion concert.