Peter Alfaro will be seeking a payback when San Beda University faces Mapua University in Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 men’s basketball tournament best-of-three finals showdown starting Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alfaro said he has an old score to settle since he was part of the Red Cubs squad that suffered a massive heartbreak at the hands of the Red Robins.
Together with Evan Nelle, Robi Nayve, Germy Mahinay, Ry dela Rosa, Joshua Tagala, Ain Obenza and Samuel Abu Hijleh, the Red Cubs were on their way to a historic eight straight NCAA juniors title in Season 92 in 2016.
But they bowed to a powerhouse Mapua side bannered by Warren Bonifacio, Jasper Salenga, Brian Lacap, Will Gozum and Clint Escamis.
Escamis, Bonifacio, and head coach Randy Alcantara are now part of the current Mapua side that is blocking San Beda’s return to the NCAA throne.
“There’s an added motivation since this series will be like a repeat of what happened in high school. If we play our cards right, maybe I’ll get my redemption this time since they won over us in high school,” said Alfaro, adding that he and Tagala are the only members of that Red Cubs squad that remains with San Beda.
“Knowing them, coach Randy will adjust since I have been playing against him since high school. I think this will be a good match.”
The 24-year-old Alfaro said momentum is on their side after shocking Lyceum of the Philippines in the Final Four.
“For me, we have a big momentum on the days going into the finals because we just came from a successful series. We will be able to prepare well and we have confidence in ourselves. I hope this game will be fruitful,” Alfaro said.
Yukien Andrada, also a former Red Cub, is also pumped up to face Mapua in the championship round after getting swept in the eliminations.
“It was my rookie season in the juniors back in 2018 and Mapua was also our opponent in the Final Four. They were able to knock us out so that gives me and my teammates motivation also,” Andrada said.
“We want to beat them and we didn’t win against them this season. We have this motivation to beat them in the finals.”
