MARK Alfafara set a new UAAP scoring record, but it was not enough as the UST Tiger Spikers squandered a twice-to-beat advantage against the National University Bulldogs last Feb. 25.
Alfafara, the leading candidate for this year’s Most Valuable Player award, fired a career-high 37 points in a four-set loss to the two-time defending champion Bulldogs. UST and NU collide again tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the winner facing Ateneo de Manila for the championship.
Alfafara beat the previous record of 36 points set by FEU’s Edjet Mabbayad in 2007.
He rued the overconfidence of the Tiger Spikers, who were enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the semifinals. UST allowed the veteran Bulldogs to snatch the first two sets and put up a commanding advantage.
UST reached set point first in the first two sets only to allow NU to pull off remarkable comebacks.
“Siguro masyadong inisip na amin na ito. Hindi pa naming tinapos eh. Masyadong kumpiyansa na amin na ito pero kinalimutan na hindi pa tapos ‘yung laro kaya pa nila [NU] na baligtarin. Masyadong naging relax,” Alfafara said.
The General Santos City native said his team might have failed to give the two-time champions the respect they deserved.
“Nakalimutan namin, pero hindi naman siguro totally lahat, nakalimutan naming na respetuhin ‘yung kalaban. Kahit anong mangyari haharangin nila kami na umabot sa finals,” he said.
Alfafara, who first won a UAAP championship in his rookie year and is looking for another one to cap his UST career, sees no major adjustments for the Tiger Spikers heading into their crucial grudge match against the Bulldogs.
He vowed that UST would bounce back against NU, but said the Tigers should trust each other more inside the court.
“Kaya pa, hindi naman natatapos sa Game 1 ‘yung volleyball eh,” he said.
