Jared Bahay Raves About ‘One of a Kind’ Kieffer Alas

Ateneo de Manila University is entering another season of transition, but this time, the Blue Eagles have a potentially exciting foundation to build around: their dynamic backcourt in Jared Bahay and Kieffer Alas.

Bahay, a guard, is entering his third season in the UAAP, a veteran by Ateneo standards after the departure of several key players from last season. Beside him is one of the most intriguing young additions to the program, Alas, the highly touted guard who spent the most recent chapter of his development playing basketball in the United States before coming home and committing to play for the Blue Eagles.

The two guards may just be building their chemistry together, but they already look like they are developing something much deeper than a simple on-court partnership and connection.

And if their early preseason play is any indication, the duo could become one of the defining storylines of Ateneo’s upcoming UAAP season.

A New Dynamic Backcourt Takes Shape

Alas arrived at Ateneo carrying plenty of expectations.

The prized recruit made a name for himself after transferring to the US and playing for Utah Prep before deciding to come home and continue his basketball journey with the Blue Eagles. With his combination of size, skill and scoring ability at the guard position, Alas immediately became one of the most intriguing additions to Ateneo’s roster – and he has already provided glimpses of what he can bring.

During the preseason playing in the PinoyLiga Cup, Alas exploded for 26 points against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, giving an early look at the offensive firepower that could eventually translate to the UAAP stage.

But for Bahay, what stands out isn’t simply what Alas can do with a basketball in his hands.

“It’s been great, man. Kieffer is one of a kind, a unicorn as they say, a generational player, a phenom,” Bahay said to ALL-STAR Magazine in an interview about playing together.

“It’s been great and good. I love playing with him.”

Those are lofty words coming from a player who has already established himself as one of Ateneo’s key pieces over the past two seasons. Bahay has been one of the main offensive options for the team, bringing in his vast experience to the table.

But Bahay isn’t simply looking at Alas as another talented teammate. He’s embracing him as family.

“I’m treating him as my little brother,” Bahay said, before pointing out the relatively small age gap between the two. “He’s just two years younger than me. We’re just so close. He’s such a big help for the team this year.”

That relationship could prove to be important for Ateneo.

Alas is stepping into a new environment, a new system and a new level of competition in college. He may have already played at a high level in the United States, but the UAAP presents a different task especially physically.

Having Bahay beside him gives him someone who understands the demands of playing on a different level, the pressure that comes with representing the Blue Eagles and what it takes to navigate the league.

And for Bahay, having another talented guard beside him could make his own job easier. Last season, there were times defenses were keyed on stopping Bahay and getting the ball out of his hands by pressuring his handle and double teaming him.

Now, there is another player like him capable of creating his own opportunities. The attention won’t always have to be on him, and the offense won’t always have to run through him, making Ateneo’s backcourt one of the more interesting units to watch this season.

Bahay Embraces a Bigger Leadership Role

While Alas represents the present and future of the program, Bahay now finds himself in a very different position from when he first entered the UAAP.

He is no longer the new kid on the block, instead he is now one of the veterans.

With Ateneo losing several important players from last season, Bahay knows the responsibility of leadership now falls on his shoulders.

“If you talk about leadership, that’s a very important role for the team,” Bahay stated. “This year we’ve needed that since a lot of guys graduated—Kuya Josh Lazaro, three one-and-dones—so I’m embracing it.”

This season, Bahay’s responsibilities aren’t limited to scoring anymore. He has to communicate more, help younger players understand the system, and set the tone in games and in practice.

And when things inevitably become difficult during the season, he has to be one of the players the team can lean on.

That is perhaps the biggest evolution in Bahay’s role, which makes his relationship with Alas more crucial.

Rather than viewing the younger guard as someone who could potentially take touches or opportunities away from him, Bahay has embraced him as the two aim to work together, speaking to the kind of leadership Ateneo needs.

The Blue Eagles need Bahay to be the player who helps bring everyone together, and with Alas beside him, he now has another talented piece to work with.

Bahay, Alas, and the Blue Eagles trusting and leaning on each other

As talented as the backcourt may look on paper, Ateneo’s season will ultimately come down to something more fundamental: trust.

The Blue Eagles’ preparation experienced a significant interruption following the tragedy in Aurora that affected members of the team, making the process of rebuilding their chemistry even more difficult.

For Bahay, the answer is not rocket science: They just have to stay and stick together to weather the storm that’s in front of them.

“Since we had a halt in our preparation, we just need to trust each other and stick together since our circle, our team, is all we need for this season,” he said.

A team in transition can easily spiral down when things don’t go according to plan. New players are still learning the system, veterans are adjusting to increased responsibilities, and everyone is trying to figure out where they fit. 

The temptation is to look for individual solutions, but Bahay believes the answer is the opposite.

Staying together, trusting one another, and keep on building. The proper mindset that could define Ateneo’s campaign this year. 

And perhaps no two players embody that process better than Bahay and Alas, the star backcourt with expectations already surrounding them. Their paths are different, but their objective is the same: Make Ateneo better.