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realmandeeplays · 9 years

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The Man Behind the Champion: Alfred Aroga

Alfred, Henri (Betayene), and I enjoying our time together at one of our favorite spots. This was taken in 2013, during Season 76. I love this photo because we rarely see Alfred smile in pictures!

About a week ago, I was asked by my English professor to write a profile about any of the athletes we had in school. I had a lot to choose from, being a varsity athlete myself, but I instantly knew who I wanted to write about. Alfred Aroga has been a good friend of mine since I came in as a freshman in National University. He always had a story to tell, and he always made me laugh. Most people know him as the finals MVP of the UAAP champion team of season 77, but most have yet to know the story behind his success.

Humble Beginnings

The young #SilentAssassin

Alfred was only four years old when he started playing football. Surprisingly, this had been his main sport until he turned fourteen. “My parents introduced me to football when I was four. I joined a little league and I was really happy with it”, Alfred shares, “I also played other sports like volleyball and handball, which my dad pushed me into. I was pretty good at them, but I didn’t enjoy them as much.” His uncle, a basketball coach, was the one who introduced him to the sport he’s now known for. “I guess I was getting too tall for football anyway, people started making fun of my height on the field.”

Alfred enjoyed his childhood, enjoying and excelling in many different sports

In high school, Alfred was enrolled by his dad to a boarding school to stay focused on his studies and basketball. “My dad sent me to boarding school while my siblings stayed at home because he thought I was too stubborn to be around them,” he says with a laugh, “I’m the kuya but I was really hard headed.” He enjoyed boarding school although he only saw his family about three times a year. He met good friends on his basketball team who he went to the gym with while there was no practice. “I surrounded myself with the hard workers. We were young but we already knew what we wanted out of life, so we worked hard for it. Most of them are in the States now, but just yesterday I was on the phone with one of them. It’s funny how we reminisce those days together… Now we’re all one step closer to our dreams.”

Getting to Know Manila

Alfred came to Manila in 2011. Coach Eric Altamirano was scouting for new talent and he was pointed to Alfred by Henri (Betayene) and Jean (Mbe) who were already with the Bulldogs at that time. Alfred, of course, had a lot to adjust to -- learning the language was one but communicating was another thing. “The Alfred back home and the Alfred now are two different people, my family even notices it. They think it’s a miracle!” He says about his attitude, “When I was younger, I was really rude and very aggressive. I didn’t like it when people asked me questions. I would dismiss people a lot. I didn’t know it then, but I’m sure I embarrassed people around me before.” He credits the Filipino culture and his second family, the Altamiranos, for helping him communicate better. The Altamirano family took him in when he arrived in Manila. He says that Tita Marissa and Coach Eric treat him no different than their sons and daughter. “They’re unbelievable. Being a man of color, I’m sure they knew I would be different. They didn’t know anything about me but they welcomed me as family. I really thank them for that.”

Alfred’s second family, the Altamirano’s, with Jean (Mbe) and Henri (Betayene)

He also had to adjust to something he didn’t grow up with much—affection. He felt that Filipinos were very affectionate and this surprised him at times. “I feel like I can communicate better now because the Filipinos are really easy to talk to. They’re open and easy going. I also like that I’ve learned how to say sorry.”

Playing Ball Overseas

In Cameroun, like most countries in Africa and Europe, football (soccer) is the most popular sport. Alfred admits that it was hard for him to get attention as a good basketball player, that’s why he chose to play overseas. He shares, “In Cameroon (basket) ball is really different. We lack infrastructure, like gyms. To realize the dream, you have to get out of the country.” Knowing that the Philippines is a basketball loving country, he saw the opportunity to be able to show his skills. “Media is everywhere here. I can show what I can do. If I’m good enough, I can excel in other countries. It’s easy for a sportsman to bounce back from here (Manila) and into Europe; but in Africa, it’s hard because there’s hardly any activity in basketball.”

In high school, Alfred was only able to practice with his team three times a week. But in Manila, that had to change for him because basketball, especially in the collegiate leagues, was very competitive. In his first year in Manila, he worked three times a day with Coach Eric and the Bulldogs. He had practice with Team A in the morning, Team B in the afternoon, and at home he would lift weights and do cardio. “My attitude towards basketball changed here. Back home, I just didn’t care. I used to tell myself, ‘If we win, it’s a good thing, and if we lose, it’s a good thing too’.

“I also had to learn how to be a better team mate” Alfred who was the “bad boy” of his high school team says, “Here I learned to better communicate with my team mates and tolerate different personalities. We need to understand and encourage each other to be effective. When I started gaining the respect of my team mates, it gave me fire to work harder for them and win.”

Alfred and Coach Eric (Altamirano) celebrating an important win for the Bulldogs in Season 77 makes big news

Game Changer

All champions have someone worth fighting for. In most stories it’s a damsel in distress, but for The Silent Assassin, it’s his dad. “The one who’s always inspired me to work hard was my dad. My dad was a strong man; he made me want to make him proud.” Alfred’s dad passed away in the summer of 2013. “He had been in and out of the hospital in 2008 and the doctors told him he wouldn’t have much time to live. He was really strong and he fought his sickness for years. It was crazy because during the time that he got ill again (2013), I thought he could fight it.” Alfred got updates about his dad’s condition through text messages. He spent his days waiting by his phone for a call or a text from his brothers. “One night I told Henri and Jean that I needed to call my dad. I just felt the need to talk to him. I tried to call him that night, but it was my cousin who picked up. She told me that he had already passed. That was only a week after they told me I still wasn’t eligible to play for season 76.”

Alfred’s Dad

In just a night, Alfred found himself carrying the heavy burdens of filling his father’s shoes as the man of the house, grieving for his father’s passing, and the disappointment of being unable to play for his team after all his hard work. “I learned many things then. Growing up, my dad took care of my whole family; he was the one everyone went to for help. I hated seeing him sick, but most of all, I hated seeing that no one was there for him when he was unable to provide. My dad was such a nice man. He was there to help everybody! The way he passed away was so heart breaking for me, I hated to see that.” Alfred was unable to go home during the time his dad was in the hospital. He says that his father told him to stay home, and he respected his wishes. “My own father told me that my job was to be here (in Manila). He told me, ‘I don’t want to see you back here. You come and see my grave when you’re stable and have found success on your own’. Can you imagine your own dad telling you that?” Alfred shook his head and laughed, “You might think that my dad was crazy for telling me that, but that’s what keeps me motivated. I want to see my dad one day and tell him that I’ve found my success. I want him to see that I’ve taken care of his legacy; the things he left behind – Mom, my two brothers, and my two sisters.”

Alfred with one of his siblings and their mother

Alfred and his two younger siblings

Looking Ahead

Alfred can proudly say that he’s found success now. He led his team to the UAAP Championships as the finals MVP last season, and it was definitely a season to remember. The Bulldogs last saw victory in the court 60 years before. Their team, and his name, will be written down in UAAP history.

Some of what he’s achieved

When I asked Alfred what his next goal was he told me that it was to graduate. “Life isn’t all about basketball. I have a good education that I want to use so I can be the best husband for my mom and the best dad for my siblings” he says. But don’t worry, Alfred still has plans to play ball even after college. “I want to be able to play in the European pros. That’s my dream now.”

Finally, at the end of my talk with Alfred, I asked him what he liked most about himself. His answered surprised me, “I like that I’ve learned how to be humble.” I then asked him if he thought that humility could bring him to his goals. “Well you see, I may be a star or famous or whatever you call it” he says sheepishly, “but I know it can’t change me just yet. Finals’ MVP isn’t the end of my life, and the UAAP is just a small detail in my career. If I stay humble, I’ll stay the same simple guy who just wants to be better than who I was yesterday.”

Alfred and his hero

Quick Questions

Who are you most comfortable playing with on the court?

Henri (Betayene). He did a phenomenal job last season, the team could rely on him. He was always there for me too, coaching me during the games and giving me advice about my work even on the phone days after. We’re like husband and wife at practices and in games. I’m gonna miss him a lot.

What are your favorite basketball shoes?

Any kind of low-cut Kobe’s

What will you always keep in your diet?

I can’t live without chili. It’s too good, sobrang sarap!

What do you do during your free time?

I like to watch Kobe and motivation videos. I do that a lot! My roommate Issa would put cotton in his ears ‘cus I would be singing what they would be saying in the motivation videos. Haha! It pushes me to move. I also like to talk to Issa and laugh about many things together.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I love worship music, Christian music. I love RNB and rap. My favorite artist is Chris Brown.

What do you first notice in a girl?

Her smile

Where can we find you on weekends?

EDSA Shangri-La

What do you spend on?

I don’t really spend because most of my cash goes back home. I like to support my mom with whatever she needs although she works too. I also spend on food mostly.

Special thanks to the Aroga family for sending their precious family photos for this article.

Written by

Amanda Alejandrino

#AlfredAroga #SilentAssassin #TheSilentAssassin #NUBulldogs #UAAP #Season77 #Champions

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