IN his fifth and final year as a Tamaraw, Royce Alforque will treasure within his heart the school that allowed him to grow up AND glow up.
FEU’s homegrown senior pledged his loyalty to the green-and-gold the moment he became part of the Baby Tamaraws' stable nearly a decade ago.
And even as players came and went throughout his stay, not once did it cross Alforque’s mind to leave Morayta for good despite going through plenty of ups and downs in seasons past.
The Cebuano playmaker was part of FEU’s UAAP Season 82 Final Four run in his rookie year. But then came a pandemic-stricken year that preceded what would be another postseason charge come Season 84.
From there, the Tamaraws went on a full 180 and became bottom-feeders with back-to-back seventh-place finishes in Seasons 85 and 86.
Being brave for his dream school
Despite only having three wins in nine games played so far in his last dance, Alforque wouldn’t have shifted gears even if he had a chance.
Why? Because FEU is his dream school - and some dreams just mean too much to let go of.
“Talagang sila ‘yung kumuha kasi sa akin since high school pa eh, so talagang bumabawi lang ako sa kung ano ‘yung binigay nila sa akin na opportunity, and especially big school ‘yung FEU,” Alforque told SPIN.ph.
“Actually, pangarap ko talaga ‘yung FEU na school dati pa. Kaya ngayon, talagang pinili kong mag-stay kahit na nag-alisan sina Bryan [Sajonia].”
Indeed, even as the likes of Sajonia and Joe Celzo transferred to San Beda, and Patrick Sleat opted to take his talents to Perpetual, the 6-foot guard stood pat.
And with a clear purpose in mind, he knew exactly why he stayed.
In his words, “Pinili ko mag-stay kasi gusto kong manalo. Gusto kong ibalik ‘yung winning culture ng FEU talaga.”
Far Eastern onward, beloved alma mater
By the end of Season 87, Alforque will come face-to-face whatever lies ahead in his basketball career.
READ: Fit-again Cholo Anonuevo turns out to be missing piece in FEU puzzle
But before his final goodbyes, he does have one resounding promise for the Tamaraws faithful: the fight for the green-and-gold won’t ever stop.
“Ipapangako namin sa remaining games namin na talagang one game at a time lang kami. ‘Yun, lalaban kami. Gusto namin talaga na kung pwede makuha namin ‘yung mga lahat ng panalo sa second round para makabot pa kami sa Final Four,” said Alforque.
“Nasa process kami hanggang ngayon na talagang hinahanap pa rin namin ‘yung ano ‘yung minold sa’min ni coach Sean [Chambers]. Ginagawa lang namin yung mga gusto niya gawin and nagbubunga naman, so nagtitiwala lang kami sa system.”
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