EVEN though he is in the United States to vie for a place in the NCAA, Kieffer Alas said he remains committed to playing for the national team in international competitions.
The 18-year-old Alas is currently with Layton Christian Academy in Utah to play for the school team where the next goal is to make an NCAA Division 1 school in college.
But Alas said that won’t prevent him from fulfilling national team duties with Gilas Pilipinas again – even in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
“No matter what, Gilas is my priority,” said Alas, when asked about the SEA Games. “I’m going to make sure that I’ll be available for that.”
Incidentally, a SEA Games gold medal runs in the Alas family with Kieffer’s father Louie being the head coach of the Philippine team in 1999 in Brunei and and an assistant to Junel Baculi in 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and brother Kevin being part of the 2013 squad in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.
READ: All these players are willing to play for Gilas at SEA Games
Alas already suited up for the youth squad of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship where the team reached the semifinals of the tournament by beating Japan, 64-59, to book a place in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup the following year.
He was also named as the Mythical Five of the tournament.
Unfortunately for Alas, he suffered a knee injury during a tune-up game against Canada that kept him out of the U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. Gilas Pilipinas Youth finished dead last among the 16 teams.
Following that missed opportunity in the worlds, Alas said another chance at playing for the national squad is something that he won’t be missing.
“If ever they want me to come out there, I’ll make sure I can come,” said Alas, who prior to his move to the United States underwent a one-month training camp with NBL1 squad Warwich Senators.
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