Kevin Alas felt so pressured that he sought divine assistance to help him pull through after earning a trip to the foul line late in NLEX’s PBA Governors’ Cup meeting with NorthPort, Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
He needed to shoot all three of his free throws with 1.3 seconds left in order to give the Road Warriors a chance to stay alive. This, after blowing a double-digit lead thanks to the Batang Pier’s rally behind Arwind Santos.
The 27-year-old earned himself that trip after baiting import Cameron Forte to a foul from deep. But actually sinking the freebies was a different story.
“I’m feeling the pressure nung nakatayo ka roon. I remember sina Robert [Bolick], lumalapit, kinakausap ako pero ‘di ko na maalala,” Alas told Tiebreaker Times. “Nagdadasal na lang ako na sabi ko, ‘God, ikaw na bahala.’
“I can feel the pressure nung andun ako. Talagang nagdadasal na lang ako dun sa free throw line. Kasi siyempre if I miss one, wala, talo kami.”
Fortunately, the heavens heard his plea. He was able to make all three, and the match eventually went to an extra five minutes.
And so, the Road Warriors did not let the efforts of their lead floor general go to waste. They eventually took home the 120-113 victory.
“I’m very happy. God enabled us to produce the win dahil kanina talagang talo na, talagang nagdadasal na lang kami na manalo. So it was really all God,” said Alas, who finished with 21 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the stripe.
For the seven-year pro, though, those clutch shots also meant a lot to him personally. It was his way of atoning for a blunder he committed prior, when he fouled Batang Pier star Robert Bolick and sent him to the line.
The gap, at that time, was just a solitary point, but inflated to three, 102-99, as the third-year point guard made both of his free throws
“It was one way of redeeming myself,” he said. “Kasi before that, I fouled Robert e. We were down by only one. Napagalitan ako ni coach Yeng, nasabihan ako. So, I think nagkaroon lang ng pagkakataon para makabawi.”
Alas was definitely the reason why NLEX was able to eke out the thrilling win. But he gave credit to his fellow Road Warriors, most especially to KJ McDaniels.
The American reinforcement took over in overtime and finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals.
“I’m very happy. God enabled us to produce the win dahil kanina talagang talo na, talagang nagdadasal na lang kami na manalo. So it was really all God. Of course credit sa coaching staff and of course kay KJ din,” he said.
As glad as they are to chalk up their second win in as many games, though, Alas said that they can’t lose leads like that in their coming games – NLEX actually led by as many as 14 points.
“It is a concern kasi we were leading by double digits. And then humabol yung kalaban,” he said.
“Hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax.”
