Kieffer Alas has officially bid farewell to De La Salle-Zobel, just three days before flying to Australia as he begins his journey toward securing an athletic scholarship with an NCAA Division I school.
In a heartfelt social media post, the 18-year-old second-generation cager expressed his gratitude to DLSZ, which has been his home for the past decade.
“Words can’t express my gratitude. Thank you for loving me not because of, but in spite of, everything that has happened,” Alas wrote.
“It’s been a heck of a ride, and I’m always thankful that God led me to this school.”
Alas spent his formative years — from grade school through high school — at De La Salle-Zobel.
For the past two years, he served as the cornerstone of the Junior Archers program, emerging as the team’s leader.
Although he wasn’t able to lead the team to a Final Four appearance, Alas ensured the Junior Archers remained competitive against UAAP powerhouse programs such as FEU-Diliman, Adamson, NU-Nazareth School, and UST.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
His individual brilliance did not go unnoticed.
Alas was named to the UAAP Boys’ Mythical Team in back-to-back seasons and earned the Most Valuable Player award in UAAP Season 87.
Now, he is taking his talents abroad, bringing with him the lessons learned under the La Salle system.
“As I enter my senior year in the U.S., I couldn’t be more grateful to Zobel for their guidance and support. It’s been an honor to represent the green and white,” he added.
Alas will first head to Perth, Australia, where he will spend a month training with the NBL1 West team Warwick Senators under the guidance of Andrew Cooper.
From there, he will fly straight to Utah to enroll at Layton Christian Academy for his Grade 12 year.
Layton Christian’s basketball program, known as the Eagles, was ranked 52nd among AAU teams in the United States last year.
There, he will play under head coach Casey Stanley, a seasoned mentor who previously worked as a video coordinator for legendary NCAA coach Rick Pitino.
Stanley has also been part of the coaching staff for seven NCAA Division I programs, including Iona, Arkansas State, UNC-Wilmington, Minnesota, FIU, Louisville, and Seton Hall.
Back at De La Salle-Zobel, Bonn Daja is expected to take the reins as the new leader of the Junior Archers, alongside rising stars Ken Atienza and Vince Magan.
