Kieffer Alas’ confidence stood out in Ateneo’s 87-76 win over National University in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament at Philsports Arena on Saturday.
Despite struggling early, Alas took the big shots down the stretch to help the Blue Eagles rally from 17 points down and beat the Bulldogs.
The highly touted rookie knew he was cold from the field heading into the fourth quarter.
But, as his dad and coach Louie Alas would say, when you have the clutch genes, you just have it.
‘Like what my dad-slash-coach said, it’s just in you,’ Alas said, after dropping 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. ‘Confidence is very important because that’s how big time plays are made.’
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‘There’re so many good players in the world but you can see who’s above the rest when they keep on going. The results just showed in the fourth quarter.’
Before the payoff period, Alas only had 10 points for the Blue Eagles.
But when it mattered most, the former La Salle-Zobel exploded and scored 10 points just in the fourth quarter.
Alas also scored seven in the Blue Eagles’ 12-4 game-deciding run down the stretch that gave Ateneo an 82-74 lead with 1:07 left.
He looks to keep up his hot streak when Ateneo takes on La Salle in the first rivalry game of the season at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.