For a couple of years, Kieffer Alas has pretty much been a man amongst boys. Whether it was in the UAAP Juniors division or with Batang Gilas, Alas has played well beyond his years. Scoring has been a given for the youngest son of coach Louie Alas, but he also made big plays under the bright lights. 

Alas is now the presumptive UAAP Season 87 Juniors MVP given the UAAP’s archaic rule to limit foreign student-athletes to the Best Foreign Student-Athlete Award. However, the exclusion of student-athletes does not mean that Alas was not deserving of the MVP award as he has had a stellar campaign despite an uneven Season 87 for the DLSZ Junior Archers. 

It’s been reported that with his Season 87 campaign over, Alas could head to Australia to train and afterwards head to the US to join an Amateur Athletic Union team. Training with and playing against bigger and stronger players should help Alas sharpen his game and prepare him for the long run. 

What happens next in the short-term, though, is anyone’s guess. 

Alas’ future with the Junior Archers and the UAAP remains up in the air, as Alas could pursue foreign opportunities. Of course, the option to move to another school is still on the table, considering how Kieffer’s father Louie is currently an assistant coach with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. It would be an unprecedented switch to an archrival, but it wouldn’t be the first time it happened. 

It’s great that Alas has time to think about his next steps, but the decision should be obvious; a longer stint abroad is the right way forward. While a Juniors championship would have been nice, the 17-year old has pretty much achieved everything an individual would want to attain in the UAAP Juniors division. Another year with DLSZ would allow him to add to his accolades but going abroad would definitely help with his growth. 

Immersing himself in an environment where he will have to work his way to being the best in his class should push him to be better not just for whoever he plays for next, but also for the national team. Key to his improvement will be reps and the meaningful ones will come from those experiences. Moreover, the coaching he will get there could unlock the rest of his game. 

Alas and his family are being prudent not just because of how important his decision will be, but also because the 6-foot-2 guard has just recently fully recovered from a sprained ACL in his left knee. His brother Kevin has suffered multiple ACL injuries so Kieffer is proceeding with caution so that he wouldn’t worsen his injury. 

As mature as Kieffer Alas’ game is at this point, it’s clear there’s still room to grow. Alas has exceeded expectations and overcome some adversity in recent months, but the biggest challenge remains in front of him. There is a chance he may have to step out of his comfort zone, as such is the nature of the path to greatness. That being said, we all know he’ll make the right decision with his family.