YOUNG and clueless at 16, Cebuano Royce Alforque traveled to Manila to try his luck in one of the country’s most storied basketball programs: Far Eastern University.
The Tamaraws have produced cream of the crop-level athletes that turned pro in the likes of Johnny Abarrientos, Arwind Santos, Terrence Romeo, and Arvin Tolentino, among others.
Fear was right in his face, with the unknown right behind it. Still, he took a leap of faith.
“Hindi ko maisip yung naging path ko kung hindi ako napunta sa FEU,” Alforque told SPIN.ph Saturday after FEU’s loss to the University of the Philippines that officially put them out of Final Four contention in UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball.
READ: UP returns to form, ends FEU's late playoff charge
The green-and-gold's lone graduating player continued: “Hindi naman na sana ako pupunta ng FEU kasi nakakatakot, parang stretch siya para sa'kin, pero sabi nga ng tatay ko, kaya nga tryout eh, subukan muna, 'pag 'di kaya, edi out. Eh, nakuha ako.”
Royce’s performance was promising enough to land not just him, but also older brother Ramish a spot on the Baby Tamaraws.
They were together - yes, far away from the Queen City of the South, but together nonetheless. And the next thing he knew, it was just the two of them marveling at the concrete jungle.
“Ang 'di ko makakalimutan nung nagsimula ako, nung juniors ako, natuto agad ako sa buhay. Wala kaming pera ng kapatid ko, allowance namin magkano lang, tapos nakipagsapalaran kami dito, wala kaming kamag-anak,” he said.
“Survival mode talaga kami, laban sa buhay kasi kailangan kumain. Magugutom ka, nagutom kami, ganoong level.”
In fact, Alforque even remembered an instance when they had to beg the FEU Diliman security guards for rice just so they could survive the day.
“Nanghingi kami ng kanin sa mga guwardiya. Long holiday kasi nun, umuwi lahat sa mga bahay nila. Kami ng kapatid ko, nandito. Wala kaming pamasahe pauwi kaya nasa dorm lang kami," he recalled.
"'Pag naiisip ko yun, naiiyak talaga ko."
From rice to rise
On the court, Alforque made a name for himself as one of the most sought-after high school stars.
But transitioning to college wasn't exactly as easy as he thought it would be, especially as he was joining an already-loaded backcourt that included L-Jay Gonzales, Wendell Comboy, Xyrus Torres, and Alec Stockton.
“Pa-seniors naman, dinoubt ko sarili ko kung para dito ba talaga 'ko, kasi kita ko talaga na ang hirap makipagsabayan. Pero lumaban ako, eventually, nakapag-adapt, kaso nag-pandemic nga,” he said.
“Nung nag-pandemic, dun naman ako nagising na hindi pala pwede na puro basketball lang, kaya pinagbutihan ko pag-aaral ko. Ayun, grumaduate ako.”
And so, in 2023, the 5-foot-11 guard earned his bachelor’s degree in sports science.
All that did was boost his morale that he can also achieve great things outside the court.
“Laking pasasalamat ko sa FEU. Nakapagtapos ako eh, hindi biro yun,” he said.
Spearheading the charge
Alforque then enrolled in a master’s program to play his final year for the Tamaraws, but it wasn't just academically that he took it to another level, as he also took the responsibility of captainship in a rebuilding team.
“Pagpasok ni coach Sean [Chambers], siyempre, nanibago kami, nagsimula ulit kami, and yun, naging kuya ako sa teammates ko. Hindi naman nila ako pinahirapan kasi kahit makulit, nakikinig ang mga bata, and hindi man ito yung ending na gusto ko, alam ko na may nasimulan kami this season na magpo-progress pa in the coming years,” he said.
All these challenges polished his maturity, and as his collegiate career ends, Alforque is dead set on rising to the occasion of continuing his career in the pros.
Having spent almost half of his life in the FEU program, a rare show of loyalty among players nowadays, Alforque is glad to have learned from the best mentors in Abarrientos, Denok Miranda, Vic Pablo, and last but not the least, Chambers.
“Excited ako, sobra. May takot, siyempre, pero takot din naman ako nung nagsimula dito, tapos nandito na 'ko ngayon," he said.
"Utang ko sa mga coaches ko yung natutunan ko. Alam ko kung saan man ako dadalhin after college, alam ko magtatrabaho ako nang maayos kasi yun ang itinuro sakin ng FEU."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
