Manila to the Mountains: Alas Chases His Dream
For most high school athletes, a great season is enough. A few awards, maybe an MVP, and a college offer close to home. But for Kieffer Alas, one of the brightest young stars in Philippine basketball, the dream is bigger. It’s bolder. And now, it’s taking him halfway across the world.
After a dominant run in UAAP Season 87 – averaging over 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per game – and capturing the MVP crown, Alas made headlines not for what he accomplished, but for where he’s going next.
“I’m doing this in hopes of getting a D1 scholarship, which is my main goal,” he said without hesitation in an exclusive interview.
It’s a bold move, but one that shows just how clear Kieffer’s vision is. To get there, he’s lined up a year that’s anything but ordinary.
First stop: Perth, Australia, where Kieffer is training with the Warwick Senators, a respected club in the semi-pro NBL1 West league. The goal isn’t just to stay in shape – it’s to grow.
“I’m grateful,” he says. “It gives me a stepping stone and a training ground to improve for my preparation for my senior year with Layton.”
Layton, as in Layton Christian Academy (LCA) in Utah — one of the most competitive and decorated high school basketball programs in the U.S. With multiple state titles and a powerhouse schedule, the Eagles don’t just win. They develop winners.
“Super excited,” Kieffer says. “They have a great culture there where I can improve as a player and as a person.”
LCA is the kind of place where talent meets structure. Led by head coach Casey Stanley — a seasoned strategist with NCAA Division I experience — the school’s program is built to challenge and elevate. With games against elite opponents and visibility in front of college scouts, the opportunity is real. And Kieffer is ready.
But even prodigies know where they need to grow.
“I believe my shooting and stamina [are top priorities],” he says. “Because I’ll probably be playing mostly point guard, and I need to be consistent with those two aspects.”
It’s that mix of humility and hunger that makes Kieffer Alas so easy to root for. He’s already a star in the Philippines, but he’s not resting on laurels. Instead, he’s sprinting toward the unknown – across continents, through adversity (including bouncing back from knee scares in 2024), and into something greater.
He’s not just chasing a scholarship. He’s building a future. And he’s doing it with heart.
So whether you saw him break ankles in the UAAP or lift Team Hustle to victory in the NBTC All-Star Game, know this: the story of Kieffer Alas is just getting started. And the next chapter? It’s being written in the gym, thousands of miles from home – with every shot, sprint, and sacrifice, aimed at the dream.
