No man is an island.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons exhausted everything they could from Harold Alarcon but fell short as they dropped Game 1 of UAAP Season 88 Finals against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 70-74, on Wednesday at a jam-packed SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The graduating Silay City guard dropped a career-high 34 points only to see it be put to waste as DLSU’s Jacob Cortez drilled a crucial three in the last 27.4 seconds to seal the series opener.
Alarcon’s career-best marks the most points scored in a championship game since Ateneo de Manila University’s Thirdy Ravena’s 38-point explosion in a title-clinching win against UP in Season 81.
For head coach Goldwin Monteverde, UP will need greater contributions across the roster as they charter an unfamiliar territory — losing Game 1 in its five consecutive finals appearances.
“‘Yong 34 points ni Harold, kailangan namin ‘yon. [Pero] hindi puwedeng si Harold na lang,” said Monteverde during the post-game press conference.
“This is not the first time [na] natalo kami. We still have two games left. We are positive about it,” he added.
Only Francis Nnoruka breached the double-digit mark, notching 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks, as 10 Fighting Maroons went scoreless.
Led by Alarcon’s 20-point first-half explosion, UP enjoyed a nine-point cushion with 1:30 remaining in the third frame, 58-49.
The defending champions managed to stay ahead by three points midway through the final frame, before Luis Pablo sank a hook shot to hand DLSU the lead at 68-70.
The former Fighting Maroon Pablo proved crucial down the stretch, blocking Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano in the ensuing plays, while scoring all of his seven points in the quarter.
Alarcon managed to keep State U within striking distance after a fastbreak layup with less than a minute left, 70-71.
Cortez, however, had other plans for the night, as he sank a stepback three over Reyland Torres to put the final nail in the coffin.
Cortez led the Taft-based squad with 21 points and four rebounds while Andrei Dungo added 15 markers.
The Fighting Maroons vie to bounce back in a win-or-go-home Game 2 Finals against the Green Archers on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the same venue.
