Alas gives son Kieffer license to shoot

Kieffer Alas didn’t even know what his father and Ateneo De Manila University interim coach Louie Alas meant when he described the rookie guard’s confidence to take big shots in the closing minutes.

Despite throwing bricks in the first 38 minutes of the game, the younger Alas boldly took over in the winning time as he converted all four of his last attempts for the Blue Eagles’ 87-76 victory over National University to move on top of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball standings on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.

Kieffer sat beside the Alas patriarch during the post-game presser and listened intently to what his father had to say.

“Talaga lang makapal ang mukha (He’s just thick-faced). No, no, kidding aside, I told him as long as it’s not a bad shot, as long as you’re free, go, because that’s your role: to score,” Louie Alas quipped after the Blue Eagles snatched their second straight win.

Louie’s remarks drew a hearty laugh.

Kieffer, actually, was clueless as to why.

“I’m sorry what’s kapal ng mukha mean?” he asked.

His father answered teasingly, “It’s thick-faced.”

It momentarily made Kieffer lose his train of thought before moving on to dissect the grit he had shown to power Ateneo to a 3-1 win-loss record.

“I think it’s very important. That’s how big-time players are made,” said Kieffer, who before his finishing rampage shot only 3-of-16 from the field.

Trailing by one, 73-74, with 2:54 remaining, Kieffer flipped the switch and took over the game.

He put Ateneo back in front with a layup before Ian Espinosa dove for a loose ball, leading to an EJ Kapihe breakaway that gave the Blue Eagles a 77-74 cushion.

Kieffer stole the off a bad pass by Reinhard Jumamoy and converted the ensuing layup before delivering the dagger — a well-contested three-pointer with 1:08 remaining that extended the Blue Eagles lead to 82-74.

Espinosa drilled a jumper that pushed Ateneo’s advantage to double digits before Kieffer sealed the deal with a coup de grace trey.

Kieffer finished with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block to pace the Blue Eagles, who recovered from a 17-point deficit to stun the Bulldogs.

“As Dad and other great coaches say, there are so many good players in this world, no matter what country, what league you play in. But you can see who’s set above the rest. No matter how bad of a game you have in the first, second or third quarter, as long as you just keep on going, and I guess the results showed in this fourth quarter,” Kieffer said.

Ateneo is looking to carry the momentum of its win when it battles archrival defending champion De La Salle University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.