Daily Tribune
KIEFFER Alas is ready to make the country proud when he plays for Layton Christian Academy starting next week in the United States.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF KIEFFER ALAS/IG
Kieffer Alas, one of the country’s most promising young players, is set to test his mettle against the best high school players in the United States when he formally starts his season with Layton Christian Academy (LCA) in Utah next week.
His father, Ateneo de Manila University assistant coach Louie Alas, told DAILY TRIBUNE that the 18-year-old Alas is pumped up and ready to go as he formally made the 15-man roster following rigorous training since his arrival in the US last August.
Alas was scouted by LCA coach Casey Stanley after emerging as Most Valuable Player in Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament early this year. Since then, has been grinding for a spot in the powerhouse roster that was made more competitive by the presence of other international players.
Alas will formally kick off his US journey when LCA clashes with Lone Peak High School on 18 November.
“I told him to just stay ready. He has that to control regardless of the minutes he will play,” Louie said, adding that his son is staying in the team dormitory while his mother, Liza, lives just outside the LCA campus.
“He told me: ‘Dad, I am not complaining but practices here are hard.’ He told me they trained twice a day there. It was even three times a day during the summer.”
The elder Alas, who is no stranger to developing quality players after steering Letran College to multiple National Collegiate Athletic Association titles, said his son is thrilled to face future National Basketball Association (NBA) prospects in the national tourney that will run until April next year.
“Kieffer is ready to give 110 percent if he is given the chance. He couldn’t wait to go up against NBA players,” said Louie, emphasizing that he will be reunited with his youngest son as soon as his coaching commitments with the Blue Eagles are over next month.
“I’ll be flying over to the United States once the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is done.”
Alas has been preparing for this moment.
