Ateneo de Manila University head coach Louie Alas in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball press conference. UAAP Media.MANILA — Still navigating one of its most challenging and unusual periods, Ateneo de Manila University is set to usher in a new era while carrying the memories of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Following the Dipaculao, Aurora tragedy that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili on June 8, the Blue Eagles hope to take another step toward healing by returning to competition in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.
READ: ‘Persevering’ Blue Eagles continue to heal through playing, says Alas
Ateneo will now be led by head coach Louie Alas after Tab Baldwin resigned following his 10-year stint with the Blue Eagles in the wake of the tragedy, leaving the veteran mentor to navigate uncharted territory in his return to collegiate hoops.
“Yung familiarity, yung lahat ng pwedeng mangyari, na-experience ko na lahat before. Pero parang balik ulit ako from scratch,” said the three-time NCAA champion coach with Colegio de San Juan de Letran. “Hindi ko alam yung feeling. Parang may hesitation. It remains to be seen, what will happen, pero we will not stop preparing.”
Alas was already an assistant coach at Ateneo before the tragedy, with the 62-year-old mentor serving as a deputy for the Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 88.
But while Alas was absent from Ateneo’s trip to Dipaculao, he admitted thinking that his time with the Blue Eagles could have also ended.
“When it happened, yung sa Aurora, I was ready to go,” he said. “Kasama ako doon sa coaching staff, so ine-expect ko na tapos na ako coaching college.”
The former Alaska Aces deputy, however, said the opposite happened, as school management instead tasked him with taking over Baldwin’s place despite uncertainty over whether the team would be allowed to return to action after the tragedy.
“When they texted me, yung isang priest, if I can be the temporary coach, sabi ko: ‘Father, I never back down from any challenges. And ‘di ko naman iiwan yung mga bata,’” said Alas.
Alas will now coach his son Kieffer, following in the footsteps of his stints with sons Kevin and Junjun at Letran, but this is something neither father nor son ever imagined happening at Ateneo.
“Actually, yun ang last thing na dapat ginawa ko,” he said. “And pinag-usapan namin ni Kieffer before: ‘Dad, ‘di naman tayo magsasama, you as my head coach.’ Napagdaanan ko na yun kay Kevin at kay Junjun sa Letran, si Kenneth naman nag-San Beda.”
“Pero there must be a reason, and kamay ng Diyos ang nagbigay nito sa akin,” he added.
Ateneo’s Ace
Kieffer Alas was one of the country's most sought-after high school prospects, with the Las Piñas native winning a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during his time with De La Salle-Zobel.
Kieffer’s entry to Ateneo after spending time in the United States with Utah Prep and Layton Christian Academy was among the recruitment stories that generated the biggest buzz heading into UAAP Season 89, but Coach Alas understands that a different cloud now hangs over it.
“It remains to be seen, pero we’ll be ready,” said the elder Alas. “Based sa experience ko, everytime na dadalhin ko yung family ko sa isang pwesto, the moment na andoon na sila, I’m okay, naka-focus na ko sa game.”
For Coach Alas, the most important thing right now is making the most of the opportunity to play while also honoring the legacies of Baterbonia and Adili, something that could be seen through the patches bearing their initials that Ateneo will wear.
Rene Baterbonia (left) and Divine Adili (right). File photos: NBTC, UAAP Media.“Yung idea, nanggaling sa mga players,” shared Alas. “Initially nga, hindi kami maglalaro. Pero sinabi nila na they are also victims, and another victim kapag hindi kami naglaro, so galing sa puso talaga nila yun.”
With these in mind, the Blue Eagles are also hoping to return to the Final Four for the first time in three years, with Ateneo finishing sixth with six wins in 14 games last year despite a promising start led by Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar.
Alas, however, acknowledged how challenging it would be to even be competitive.
“Lots of things to do, to adjust,” he emphasized. “Everybody knows what happened, so it’s not easy. But we’re very thankful, and we’re very thankful to the UAAP family, for allowing us to play. The mere fact that we’re playing, it’s super appreciated.”
Playmaking, wing talent, and inside presence could be areas of concern for Ateneo, due to the loss of Adili and the departure of Ladi and Escobar to the professional ranks.
Star guards Jared Bahay and Kieffer Alas, together with veterans Ian Espinosa, Shawn Tuano, and Waki Espina, however, will look to provide stability in the backcourt and on the wings as they seek to fare well against the UAAP’s best.
Newcomers EJ Kapihe, Grayson Rogers, and Travis Roberts also provide versatility to Coach Alas’ forward rotation, while foreign student-athlete Sultan Baruwa is eyed to man the paint in the same way Adili did last year.
With the quality of players Ateneo still has, Alas remains optimistic about their ability to compete, especially with Bahay having enough experience to take control for the Blue Eagles both on and off the floor.
“Sinabi ko sa kanya na: ‘Laro ka lang, Jared. Enjoy mo yung game. Kung magkamali ka, just concentrate on the next one.’ Ganun lahat ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, kasi mahirap yung may dinadala ka kapag naglalaro eh. Sabi ko lang sa kanila, i-enjoy lang nila every moment,” said Alas.
“Yung mga bata are coping. And yung healing, this would be a part of it, playing in the UAAP,” he added.
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