AND still, Kieffer Alas finds himself on the outside looking into the UAAP boys' basketball Final Four.
Alas and De La Salle Zobel wrapped up Season 87 tied with University of the East for fifth and sixth with a 6-8 record, just right behind 7-7 defending champion Adamson.
The Jr. Archers even strung together back-to-back wins to end eliminations, but those still weren't enough to put a stop to what is now an eight-year playoff drought.
"Masakit. It hurts even more kasi one game away na lang kami. Marami sanang winnable games and I really wanted us as a team to make it," he told SPIN.ph.
It wasn't for a lack of trying on Alas' part, though, as he posted per game counts of 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals through his third year in the juniors division.
That included a 37-point masterpiece in their triumph over archrival Ateneo, the punctuation mark on what is now an individual campaign that will conclude with him hoisting his first MVP trophy.
The 6-foot-2 guard compiled 91.429 Statistical Points (SPs) to lead all locals, as last year's MVP Collins Akowe of NU-Nazareth School towered above all with 105.786 SPs.
Due to a new UAAP rule, however, Akowe will be recognized as the league's first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete, while the MVP will go to Alas.
READ: New UAAP rule guarantees Filipinos will win MVP
While of course happy for yet another feather for his cap, the son of veteran coach Louie and NLEX star Kevin reiterated that personal accolades were never his motivation.
As he put it, "I wasn't really thinking about it all season. I didn't know nga who was gonna be on top (of SPs race). I was just giving my all to help us get back to the Final Four.
Another Kieffer abroad?
Now, Alas' future in Alabang - and in the UAAP, in general - is up in the air.
Team insiders said DLSZ is already readying for a future without its top gun, who has long set his sights on opportunities overseas - and who has long had the eyes of the world on him as he played for Gilas Pilipinas Youth.
Whatever tomorrow brings, however, the 18 year old hopes he'll be remembered as a player who have his all for the green-and-white game in and game out.
"Kahit 'di kami nag-Final Four, I hope that I inspired yung mga young kids dito na kahit homegrown ka, you can still succeed as long as you work hard," looking back on his three years as a Jr. Archer.
For now, what can be said for sure is that Alas will be right back into action as a shoo-in for the NBTC 24 - the National Basketball Training Center's annual list of top 24 under-19 players in the Philippines - and the spot in the All-Star Game in late March that it entails.
There's also a possibility he plays in the National Finals itself, whether for a wildcard berth-seeking DLSZ or a club team qualifier.
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