KIEFFER Alas is coming home.
The decorated Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout is returning to our shores and committing to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in college.
Alas made the announcement on Tuesday, taking his learnings after a year-long stay in the United States, one which saw him attend Layton Christian Academy and later on suit up for Utah Prep, and bringing it to Katipunan.
READ Kieffer Alas makes immediate impact after transfer to Utah Prep
"I'm super excited. I learned a lot here especially playing for one of coach Tab [Baldwin]'s partners here in Utah Prep, so that will make it an easier transition for me," Alas told SPIN.ph.
It wasn't a hard decision for the 6-foot-3 swingman who was consistently wooed by Baldwin over the past few months.
"Coach Tab visited me multiple times here sa US and I can tell he was really interested in me," Alas shared. "They laid out their plan for me and what I could do in the future and saw me as a big part of their program. That was the main thing for me: the management and especially coach Tab putting in the effort just to visit me here multiple times."
It also doesn't hurt that it will pave the way for a reunion with his father Louie, who serves as one of Baldwin's deputies in the Blue Eagles.
Alas later made the decision official in an Instagram post. Look:
Alas, the UAAP Season 87 boys basketball MVP, is just the latest of the bluechip hauls for Ateneo ahead of UAAP Season 89 together with 2025 Palarong Pambansa MVP Rene Baterbonia of Ateneo de Davao and Jelomar Rota of Ateneo de Cebu.
But before Alas dons the blue-and-white, Alas will have his swansong in the high school level in the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals later this month as he seeks redemption for Phenom Blue Fire.
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