PLAYING FOR COACH YENG EXCITES ALAS
Seen by many as an insurance pick, Kevin Alas is out to prove he truly belongs with the big boys.
The son of coach Louie Alas was picked second overall by Rain or Shine in the 2014 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft last Sunday, and the 6-foot guard said that he is just as surprised as everybody was in the venue.
“Coming into the Draft, di ako nag-eexpect kung san ako mapupunta. Ang importante ma-draft,” the young Alas said.
He also knows the intricacies that lies in his selection, given the Paul Lee drama the Elasto Painters are currently involved in. But for Alas, he’s just as excited to suit up for the mercurial coach Yeng Guiao.
“Syempre pressured kasi number two pick kaya mataas ang expectations. Pero kung ano yung role na ibigay sa akin ni coach Yeng, gagawin ko kasi yun yung kailangan kong gawin,” he said. “I’m very excited kasi every player wants to play under coach Yeng. Kilala sya na he brings the best out of the players so masayang masaya ako sa opportunity.”
With Alas going to Rain or Shine, he will also be reunited with Raymond Almazan, who was his teammate in Letran in the NCAA, saying, “Masaya ako kasi reunited ako with Raymond. Kumbaga, may kapamilya na ako dun.”
Alas admitted that the PBA style of play is really a different compared to the amateurs, but he promised that he’s just going to exert all of his effort to adapt to his new home.
“Ako naman, it’s more of adjusting sa brand of basketball. Pero talagang ibibigay ko lang yung 100 percent ko sa bawat laro,” he said. (RL)
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