Year-long layoff pays off for UAAP finals MVP

MANILA, Philippines - National U’s Cameroonian center Alfred Aroga, the Finals MVP of UAAP Season 77, felt it was a blessing in disguise that he was forced to sit out the previous season due to eligibility issues.

Aroga was supposed to team up with Bobby Ray Parks and fellow import Emmanuel Mbe as early as 2013 but couldn’t complete the required two-year residency at that time. Reduced to spectator, the 6-foot-7 Aroga watched as the Bulldogs fell short in their Season 76 title drive.

“I missed last season but I was not sleeping; I was working hard on everything I was doing. And I think God wanted me not to play (yet) because we had a lot of super stars in the team so me being there I do not think I can fit inside (back then),” he said.

“So I felt like God had a perfect timing to send me to this team in order to help the team go somewhere,” he added.

Aroga played an instrumental role in the successful campaign of NU in Season 77, anchoring their stifling defense inside. He put up averages of 16 points and 13 rebounds in the finals and banged in game-highs of 24 markers and 18 boards in NU’s title-clinching 75-59 disposal of Far Eastern.

“I’m really thankful that we were able to get Alfred. He’s not just a good player, he’s a good person. And this guy went through a lot of heartaches, from not being able to play last year, from the time that he arrived here ang dami nyang naging problema (he had encountered a lot of problems). But I thank God for bringing Alfred to this team. He brought a sense of leadership and also the way he handles himself on and off the court,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano.

“We’ve passed through a lot. We came really far so people will really know how our story is. How everything happened. At the beginning we felt we couldn’t make it because we had a lot of rookies but we kept on working hard on our defense, trusting each other, respecting each other and staying humble,” said Aroga.