Ateneo de Manila University prized rookie Kieffer Alas in his UAAP debut against University of the East in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball. UAAP Media.MANILA — Kieffer Alas made a statement in his UAAP Season 89 debut, but Ateneo de Manila University’s prized rookie was adamant that the best is yet to come.
“It’s just Game 1 of the regular season,” said Alas, who had 24 points and four rebounds in Ateneo’s 101-74 drubbing of University of the East on Wednesday.
The Las Piñas native came five points short of breaking the rookie record for most points in a debut, set by Jerrick Ahanmisi with 28 points 10 years ago, but Alas was quick to downplay the feat.
“I just need to stay consistent, and not think of what we can do individually,” said Alas, who shared that he was unaware of Ahanmisi’s record. “It’s more on what we can do to reach our goals.”
Ateneo has been consistent in saying that healing from the June 8 tragedy in Dipaculao, Aurora, which claimed the lives of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, remains its top priority.
The Blue Eagles, collectively, believe that being able to return to action is a step toward that goal.
However, Ateneo is also aiming higher in UAAP Season 89: a chance at a Final Four spot after a three-year absence.
“After everything that happened, everything counted us out, so hopefully, slowly, we can go bring ourselves back to where we want to be,” said Alas.
And while Alas acknowledged that he could play a huge part in realizing their goal, he said it will take a team effort to make it happen.
“It helps with our confidence, but we’re still getting there so it’s not really much,” he stressed. “I just need to stay the course. We haven’t really reached the goal that we want to achieve.”
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