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FEU Tamaraws team captain Royce Alforque. Photo from UAAP Media.

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1731909398397UAAP87 MBB - Royce Alforque-6478.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The FEU Tamaraws. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The FEU Tamaraws. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Far Eastern University just fell short of reaching the UAAP Season 87 men&#x27;s basketball Final 4.</p><p>Despite a promising performance especially in the second round of this year&#x27;s festivities — with FEU winning four of their seven outings — the Sean Chambers-led Tamaraws faltered against the University of the Philippines (UP) last Saturday, and this completely dashed their playoff hopes in Season 87.</p><p>Though the Morayta cagers fell short of regaining their palace at the top of the league, exiting team captain Royce Alforque is confident that FEU&#x27;s turnaround has now started, and things will only get better for the program.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/16/cagulangan-drains-timely-baskets-as-up-ousts-feu-from-final-4-race-1708" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Cagulangan drains timely baskets as UP ousts FEU from Final 4 race</a></div><p>&quot;Masaya naman po ako sa results kahit na &#x27;di namin nakuha yung gusto naming makamit,&quot; said the 6-foot, Cebuano ace who had nine points, four assists, two rebounds, and a steal in his last game in the league.</p><p>&quot;Nakita po namin yung improvement ng team from last season. The future is bright po para sa team na &#x27;to, and I&#x27;m very thankful po sa FEU community na sinuportahan kami,&quot; he added.</p><p>The former Baby Tamaraw&#x27;s five years in Morayta was a rollercoaster ride. </p><p>After Final 4 appearances in his first two YEARS — Seasons 82 and 84 — the Tamaraws have missed the semifinals for the past three including the present one. Nonetheless, there were no regrets for Alforque in repping FEU&#x27;s Green and Gold not only in the high school ranks, but also at the collegiate level.</p><p>&quot;Naalala ko nung before ako pumunta sa FEU, sinabi sa akin ni Coach Allan [Albano] yung program ng FEU, na tinutulungan nilang mag develop yung player from Diliman to Morayta,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Nangyari naman, at nagawa rin naman nila L-Jay [Gonzales], RJ [Abarrientos]. &#x27;Di siya madaling process pero siyempre nilaban ko, and alam ko naman na &#x27;di ko talaga igi-give up talaga para makakuha ng spot.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nakuha ko yun, and nagpapasalamat ako na binigyan nila ako ng tiwala na maglaro talaga,&quot; he continued.</p><p>After coming off an injury-plagued Season 86 wherein he only appeared for seven games, Alforque came back for his fifth year, but it was not for personal gain.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1731909568955UAAP87 MBB - ROYCE ALFORQUE-5320.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="FEU Tamaraws team captain Royce Alforque. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">FEU Tamaraws team captain Royce Alforque. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span></span></div><p>Rather than proving himself yet again, much like what made it possible for him to be a mainstay in their program, the veteran guard wanted to set an example and be among the ones who would steer them back to form.</p><p>&quot;Nag pray ako na sana matapos ko yung season na &#x27;to, kasi nga na-injure ako last season, so I&#x27;m very thankful na natapos ko &#x27;to,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Gusto ko iwan yung winning culture. Sinabi ko na &#x27;to before ng season, na sana maibalik namin yung winning culture. Nandito naman si Coach Sean, so walang imposible.&quot;</p><p>While it was not reflected through their win-loss record, Chambers stressed that this was indeed what Alforque did for FEU, especially for their program that is rich in young and promising stars. </p><p>&quot;I felt that Royce led by example, so I made him team captain,&quot; said the PBA legend. &quot;Royce has a great demeanor, he&#x27;s very receptive, but personally, Royce is actually better than what he is showing right now.&quot;</p><p>&quot;He can shoot at the next level, very skilled, and he can play at the next level. Having a guy like him every day makes Janrey [Pasaol] better, and makes Jedric [Daa] better. And the biggest thing, he&#x27;s such a good kuya, a great big brother to everybody.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABQfSlc2TcQfdTku&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script><div><br/></div>

<p>FEU just fell short of reaching the UAAP Season 87 Final 4, but things started to get better for the Tamaraws with the help of Royce Alfroque. </p>

FEU just fell short of reaching the UAAP Season 87 Final 4, but things started to get better for the Tamaraws with the help of Royce Alfroque.

Paying it forward: How Royce Alforque helped FEU turn things around in his final year

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Paying it forward: How Royce Alforque helped FEU turn things around in his final year

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 18, 2024 03:28 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 21, 2024 04:35 AM PHT

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