Kevin Alas

Kevin Alas

No. 6 – Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
Position	Shooting guard / Point guard
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	(1991-11-13) November 13, 1991 Las Piñas City
Nationality	Filipino
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school	Colegio de San Juan de Letran
College	Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PBA draft	2014 Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Pro career	2014–present
Career history
2014–present	Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
Medals Men's Basketball Competitor for  Philippines FIBA Asia Cup Bronze 2014 Wuhan Team Southeast Asian Games Gold 2013 Naypyidaw Team competition

Kevin Louie Platon Alas (born November 13, 1991) is a Filipino professional basketball player who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted second overall by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2014 PBA draft.^[1]

Early Life/Amateur Career

Kevin attended Grade School at Blessed Trinity School in Las Piñas and began playing organized basketball when he was in the 5th Grade. The following year, he transferred to Letran where he would soon engage in more competitive tournaments. He would eventually make the Letran Squires lineup during his 2nd year in high school. Along with his brother, Junjun (Kristoffer), and Mythical Five member John Noble, Kevin helped lead the Squires to the NCAA Juniors Finals in 2007 where they got swept in two games by a powerhouse San Sebastian Staglets team that featured Ryan Buenafe and Arvie Bringas. The following season, Kevin’s last with the Squires, Letran made it back to the finals setting up a rematch with San Sebastian. But, once again, the Staglets dominated the Squires, sweeping them again to complete a historic four-peat and a 14-0 record (12-0 sweep in the eliminations due to the suspension and unresolved issues with the juniors' team of PCU) in the NCAA juniors division. But, despite two heartbreaking defeats, Kevin did not fail to impress talent scouts as a number of schools were interested in acquiring his services for the college game. Ironically, Kevin tried out with an old Letran rival, De La Salle University where he practiced for nearly two months before making his decision on which school to play for in college. Without any advice or influence from anybody, including his father, who gave him the free hand to select a school, Kevin personally decided that it would be best for him to stay with Letran.^[2]

He played his college ball with the Letran Knights and after their loss to San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA Season 88 championship game, he elected to forgo his final playing year to join Gilas Pilipinas.^[3] During his time with Gilas, he was a key part of the team's gold medal finish in the 2013 SEA Games and a bronze medal finish in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup.

He also played for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League and led the team to several championships. By the time his D-League stint is over, he then decided to apply for 2014 PBA draft along with his elder brother, Junjun.

Professional career

Alas was drafted 2nd overall by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters during the 2014 PBA draft, and signed a three-year deal with the team.^[4] He was groomed to take over the starting point guard spot since at that time when he was drafted, starting point guard Paul Lee requested to be traded to another team. However, when Lee decided to stay with Rain or Shine, Alas became expendable, thus they decided to trade him to NLEX for a 2015 first round pick.^[5] He was traded once again, this time to sister team Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, in a deal that sent Niño Canaleta to the Road Warriors, with Blackwater Elite as conduit which acquired Larry Rodriguez.^[6]

Personal life

He is the second of four siblings. His father is his former coach in college, former Letran coach and current Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas.^[7] He is the younger brother of fellow draftee Junjun Alas.

References