By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense guard Harold Alarcon is reuniting with his high school coach Goldwyn Monteverde after committing to play for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
The Silay City, Negros Occidental-native Alarcon confirmed his Fighting Maroon move as he admitted that one of the factors considered is his familiarity with Monteverde, who was recently appointed as UP head coach in lieu of Ilonggo Dolreich Perasol.
“Siya ang unang nag-mold sakin dito sa Manila. And feeling ko hindi pa siya tapos e-improve ‘yung potential ko as a player, masasabi ko na madami pa ako makukuha sa kanya when it comes sa basketball and growth,” Alarcon said.
“Tiwala ako sa kanya and tiwala din siya sa akin. Tiwala rin ako sa mga magiging bagong teammates ko na magtulungan lang kami para malabas lang ‘yung best namin inside and outside ng basketball court,” he added.
The 6-foot-1 Alarcon further said that he is also excited to reunite with his former National University (NU) Bullpups teammates who are now with UP in Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano, Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, and Cyril Gonzales.
“Nakita ko ‘yung news about sa mga former teammate ko napag isip-isipan ko pa lalo kung ano makakabuti sa akin and I chose to go to UP,” Alarcon said. “Another reason is ‘yung education na mai-offer ng UP.”
“Hindi na kami mahihirapan sa sistema ni coach Gold and pwede namin madala and ma-share sa teammates namin ‘yung habit na na-input sa’min ni coach Gold,” the Negrense guard added.
Fresh from high school, Alarcon will immediately be eligible to play for UP in the UAAP Season 84 tournament, which is expected to be held in a bubble in the first quarter of 2022.
Alarcon was a former standout of Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, where he dropped a 51-point triple-double during the National Basketball Training Center regionals back in 2018.
Harold was then pried away by Monteverde and the Bullpups from the Thunderbolts. During his two-year stay in NU, Alarcon posted norms of 4.75 points and 3.12 rebounds in 33 games played./ASC, WDJ