KIEFFER Alas finally gave a first-hand account on what transpired on that tragic day in Dipaculao, Aurora which took the lives of of Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
As Alas detailed in an interview with Pia Hontiveros in her 'Let’s Talk Podcast at the Pod Network,' the team was doing an activity in the beach where the players were walking in a straight line, with assistant coach Dean Castaño serving as the facilitator of the activity designed for agility.
Shortly after, multiple waves that exceed the heights of the players came crashing on the team, causing the seafloor to deepen beyond their reach.
The team was separated into clusters, with everyone panicking, including Alas, where he revealead that he was also swept away before eventually finding safety.
“Naka-bearhug na kami to each other to try and float, kaso it wasn’t working. We just went down and down and down. We just let go of each other, tapos I went up for some air tapos I was so far from everybody. I really don’t know how to swim po," Alas said.
“My head wasn’t straight, because I didn’t know what to do. I was underwater for I guess more than 20 seconds, tapos nag give up na po ako nun. I was gonna accept na mawawala na po ako. Once time kept on going by, I finally felt the floorbed. I jumped po, gasped for air, tapos ang layo na nila sa akin," he continued.
“So I tried doing a thing na higa muna ako pag may wave, tas pag nawala yung wave, because I dont know how to swim, I tried doggy paddling. Then I just kept on repeating because antagal ko sa tubig.”
After continuous paddling, Alas saw Sam Reyes and paddled back to shore while most of the staff and players were still scrambled.
Hazing? Not quite
When asked about the bootcamp, Alas shared how everything was presented to them -- and while he said that it was indeed supposed to be tough, there was no hazing involved at all.
“To get us closer, like brotherhood. He tried to incorporate our BEBOB, Blue Eagles Band of Brothers talaga. That’s where you bond brotherhood kasi walang cellphone tapos you have to cook your own meals and you have to go through obstacles together," he said.
"No po, not at all,” Alas added. “It just hurts how people perceive it that way. I know my veterans wouldn’t even think of that. They wouldn’t do that to me or any of the other rookies. Its just hard to see it online.”
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