LOUIE Alas cherished the time he coached sons Kevin and Junjun at Letran.
Given a choice, the Phoenix Fuel Masters head coach would rather not do it again. Even if it means getting reunited with Kevin, now with the NLEW Road Warriors, in the PBA.
The elder Alas said he doesn’t want to go through the same experience of being hard on his children especially when it comes to playing the game.
“Sa sarili ko kung darating uli kami sa ganoong panahon, yung may time na puwede kaming magsama, as much as possible, mas gugustuhin ko iba na yung magha-handle sa kanila,” said the Phoenix coach.
It’s not that the outcome of the partnership was bad.
In the years the Alas brothers played with the Knights, the team made the NCAA Final Four three times. During Kevin’s final stint in 2012, Letran even made the Finals, but lost to San Beda in the deciding Game 3 of the title series.
Coach Louie remembered well how his eyes were so focused on both his sons, especially Kevin, who by then had become the main man of the Intramuros-based squad, to the extent that he really became very hard on them.
“Ako naman hina-highlight ko yung mga tamang ginagawa nila like ‘good pass,’ ‘good defense.’ Pero mas naha-highlight ko yung mga mali nila,” said Alas.
He recalled one instance when both Kevin and Junjun were hurt by the dressing-down they received from their father-coach during practice that they refused to talk to him on their way home.
“Umuwi kami from practice, and nagda-drive ako, nakasakay lang sila. Nagpapatawa na ako sa sasakyan, hindi tumatawa yung dalawa,” said the elder Alas. “Parang galit yata sila sa akin dahil napagalitan ko sa practice.
“So sinasabi ko sa kanila, ‘Hey, wala na tayo sa practice, wala na tayo sa court.’ Pero dinededma pa rin nila ako.”
Worse, the situation carried over into the Alas household.
“Pati sa bahay ganun din. Akala kasi nila nasa court pa kami,” said coach Louie.
If only for such reason, the Alas patriarch said he’d rather not coach any of his sons again.
“At least kung outside ka lang, makapag-analyze ka ng kung ano ang nangyayari sa team niya at sa kanya rin mismo,” said the Phoenix mentor.
“Tsaka walang masyadong pressure sa inyong pamilya.”
Even if the opportunity to coach a college team comes up again, he’ll make sure his youngest son Kiefer Alas won’t play under him.
“Sasabihin ko sa kanya sa ibang team ka na maglaro. Matuturuan pa kita,” he added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
