National University‘s Macmac Alftanta against University of the Philippines in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball. UAAP Media.MANILA — Macmac Alfanta has continued to prove his worth in UAAP Season 89 after missing out on last year’s squad despite coming in as one of the top players of NU-Nazareth in 2025.
The 20-year-old, 6-foot guard from Digos has started in all three games for the Bulldogs this year, with Alfanta averaging 8.0 points and 1.3 blocks in over 18 minutes per game as NU won two of its first three outings, including a 72-64 victory over University of the Philippines on Saturday.
For Alfanta, however, it is just a matter of not wasting his chances.
“Ginawa ko lang talaga kung ano yung maiaambag ko sa team, and naga-adjust din,” said Alfanta, as he helped National U secure its first win over State U since 2024.
But he made it clear that it was not about proving anything wrong, as Alfanta said he had no qualms about not making the seniors’ team in UAAP Season 88.
“Matagal na rin naman kaming nagsasama nila Coach Jeff [Napa], kilala ko na rin siya,” he said.
Napa, for his part, was hardly surprised by Alfanta’s early impact, as the former Bullpups standout took being asked to sit out last season in stride and used it as motivation to prepare for his opportunity.
“Naging honest ako sa kanya, na itong taon pa yung para sa kanya,” said Napa of Alfanta, as NU prioritized its veterans in Season 88. “Sinabi ko na magparaya na siya, dahil hindi naman masasayang yung playing years niya.”
Led by tenured Bulldogs Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Jolo Manansala, NU secured the top seed before falling to eventual champion De La Salle University in the Final Four.
As the trio moved on to the professional ranks, Napa assured Alfanta that his time would come.
“Naging totoo ako na next year, sayo yung posisyon na para kay Jake Figueroa. Binigyan ko lang siya ng responsibility, ng kung ano yung ilu-look forward niyang responsibility,” he said.
But while Alfanta has been delivering so far, Napa said his target for the rookie is to continue improving given the opportunity he has been entrusted with.
“Ayoko sabihin na happy ako, kasi yun ang challenge ko sa kanya, to be more consistent,” said Napa. “Mabigat yung fill in na kailangan niyang trabahuhin. So yung pressure of being a rookie, nilalabanan niya para makapag-deliver talaga siya ng tama for the team.”
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