PBA-DL: Kevin Alas, a Knight in the Lion’s Den | NCAA Philippines

The Philippine basketball community is relatively small. Because of that, rivalries between players are often temporary. Take Letran's marquee player, guard Kevin Alas, for example. Alas led his Knights to an unprecedented run in the last season of the NCAA. After starting the season 1-3, they defeated the San Sebastian Stags twice to earn a right to challenge the San Beda Red Lions in the Finals. It was not only a match-up of two great teams, it was a battle between two intense rivals. The Knights fell to the Lions in three games, but in the aftermath of the collegiate season, Alas now finds himself on a team with guys who took the NCAA title away from him. The NLEX Road Warriors built a team composed of the some of the best amateur players in the land. Alas now teams up with 2012 NCAA Finals MVP Baser Amer and Jake Pascual of the current San Beda team, and Red Lion alums Garvo Lanete and Borgie Hermida. Alas actually played for the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems team in the last season of the PBA D-League, but he chose to team up with some of his college rivals for a better shot at winning a championship. “Nung una siyempre naiilang ako kasi magkalaban kami sa Finals,” Alas admitted. “Pero after nung unang practice okay na.” Alas even credits their rivalry as one of the factors why he plays well with the Red Lions. “Si Baser [Amer] yung palagi kong binabantayan sa NCAA so kahit papano alam ko na yung mga galaw niya,” Alas said. “Si Baser alam rin yung laro ko kaya alam niya saan ako hahanapin.” NLEX head coach Boyet Fernandez echoed Alas’ sentiments and added that there is no tension between Alas and Red Lions. “We talked to all the players after we got them. I told them that it they need to forget the schools they are from and the rivalries they were involved with,” said Francisco. “Our only goal is to perform our roles and be in the position to win another championship for NLEX.” Aside from the four Red Lions, Alas also hits the hardwood with two of the players whose NCAA Finals hopes he and his team ended, San Sebastian Stags Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang. In the first game of the NLEX Road Warriors, Alas scored only two points in 18 minutes of play, but it didn’t matter as the Road Warriors slammed Erase Xfoliant 101-71. In the four years Alas has spent in the NCAA, the San Beda Red Lions won three championships. Now Alas is out to work with his former tormentors to give NLEX a fourth title. - AMD, GMA News