From Humble Beginnings to PBA Stardom: Alec Stockton’s Journey

Alec Stockton walks into the newly established ALL-STAR House, his eyes scanning the carefully curated space designed to celebrate the best of Philippine sports. The walls tell stories – past, present, and future – while the polished floors reflect the light of fresh beginnings. He doesn’t say much at first, simply taking it all in. There’s a quiet confidence in his demeanor, the kind that suggests he’s been here before, even if he hasn’t.

He’s subtly informed that he’s the first cover athlete to have his shoot at this new location – an honor that could overwhelm some, but Alec just nods, a small smirk forming at the corner of his lips. He takes a seat on the black leather couch, letting his lower body sink into the comfort of the cushion. His legs stretch out, relaxed, but there’s an unspoken awareness to his posture – like he’s ready to get up and hoop at a moment’s notice.

Cameras and spotlights are fixed on him, but they might as well not exist. There’s no sign of unease, no hint of hesitation. Given how his career has unfolded so far, should that come as a surprise? Absolutely not.

Minutes later, he’s upstairs, settling into a chair as the team preps him for the shoot. The make-up brush moves lightly across his skin, and introductions fill the room with warm, enthusiastic energy. He greets everyone with the same humble, easygoing nature that has become a trademark of his personality. There’s no air of entitlement, no pretense of stardom – just a quiet appreciation for the moment.

Then, someone mentions that he’ll get to load up NBA 2K25 on the PS5 during the shoot. His face lights up instantly.

“Oh, man, this is amazing. I’d love for everybody to come around here and give it a little peep. This looks amazing.”

It’s a simple reaction, but it says everything about who Alec Stockton is. A pro on the court, a competitor through and through – but at the end of the day, just a guy who loves the game. Few people embody the essence of a hooper, both on and off the hardwood, quite like him.

From LA to NYC: The Early Journey

Stockton’s story started in Los Angeles, California, but his childhood unfolded on the East Coast, shaped by the relentless energy of New York City. Growing up in the city’s public school system, he learned early that basketball was a privilege, not a priority – a lesson instilled by his mother, Mariles, who emphasized schooling above all else.

“She’s all about education,” Alec shared. “She’s like, ‘I don’t care if you don’t hoop or do whatever, as long as you make sure your school is good, and that will be all good for me.’”

That unwavering standard meant Alec had to prove himself repeatedly, both in the classroom and on the court. His mother wasn’t easily convinced when he first explored the possibility of playing basketball at the next level. When offers from San Beda and FEU came, she remained hesitant about him leaving home for an opportunity halfway across the world.

“She wasn’t really thrilled with that,” he admitted. “But at the same time, I was like, ‘Mom, if I get the scholarship, you wouldn’t have to worry about my school, my tuition, or anything, like the dorms.’ I just had to make sure I’m good at basketball, I take care of what I do off the court, and I’ll be good.”

Despite her initial doubts, Alec was determined. He had spent years refining his game, overcoming growing pains in his early high school seasons before finally making his mark as a senior. That year, he emerged as a true floor general, leading all New York public school players in assists with a little over 10 per game. Not bad for someone named Stockton, huh?

It was proof – not just to his mother, but to himself – that he was ready for the next step.

“I tried so many times,” Alec reflected. “I just had to make sure I was good at basketball, take care of what I do off the court, and see what happens after that.”

With a scholarship opportunity now within reach, Alec knew he had a chance to carve out his own path – a journey that would soon take him far beyond the playgrounds of The Big Apple.

The Challenges of Moving to the Philippines

The decision to leave everything familiar behind and move to the Philippines for basketball wasn’t one Alec Stockton arrived at easily. His mother, a pillar of strength and pragmatism, was hesitant to let him take such a big leap. Despite Alec’s passion and determination, Mariles consistently resisted the idea.

“She kept saying that she doesn’t want me to do it. I don’t know what came into her for her to finally say yes,” Alec recalled. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in his potential; it was more about the worry of him being so far away from home – especially for a young man still navigating his path in the world.

For a long time, Alec faced a wall of resistance from the person whose opinion mattered most. But Alec didn’t give up. He turned to someone who understood his desire better than anyone: his sister, Marie.

“Maybe, it was probably my sister,” Alec reflected. “I was telling my sister [to] just help me convince mom for me to go to the Philippines and play basketball.”

His sister’s involvement was key in finally convincing their mother. With her support, Alec was granted permission to chase his dream in the Philippines – an opportunity that he would look back on as one of the most important decisions in his life.

“I was extremely blessed that she allowed me to do it here,” Alec said, clearly grateful for his mother’s eventual permission.

But for Alec, this wasn’t just about basketball. The Stockton family dynamic was far from conventional. Alec didn’t have the luxury of growing up with a typical, stable parental support system. While his sister stayed with their mother, Alec’s upbringing was marked by periods of separation. He was raised between the U.S. and the Philippines, spending time with his grandma and older brother, and even moving between different continents, including a stretch where his youngest brother lived with their father in Paris.

“Everyone is just all separated,” Alec explained. “My sister was with my mom the whole time. I was, here and there, with her and then my grandma brought me to the Philippines with my brother at the time, our eldest, he was in Dumaguete, and then I came back to the States with my sister and my mom.”

Despite the separation, Alec’s mother worked tirelessly to ensure her children’s well-being, even if it meant being absent at some of the milestones that other kids had the privilege of experiencing. For example, despite being one of the top players in his school, Alec’s mother had never been able to attend his games in the Philippines. His mom did manage to attend a senior high school game back in the U.S., but that was a rare occasion.

“For sure, it was a unique challenge,” Alec admitted. “Growing up, you see everybody with their moms and dads picking them up at school, watching the games. Even for me now, my mom hasn’t watched me here in the Philippines. Ever. In high school, she came to my senior game and one of my softball games.”

The absence of the typical family dynamic in Alec’s life undoubtedly had an impact on him, and while it might have been a source of envy at times, it also fueled his resolve.

“I know my mom worked so hard. She [had to] be out there putting in work just to make sure we ate every single meal,”Alec shared. It was clear that he never took her sacrifices for granted. Even without a traditional support system, Alec found strength within himself.

He wasn’t always surrounded by family the way other kids were. While many of his peers had the comfort of parents guiding them, Alec often felt like an outsider—a lone wolf. But rather than let that define him negatively, it became his  motivation.

“Everybody had their Pops or anyone from their family to be able to guide them into this path, and I was just pretty much by myself for the most part,” Alec reflected. “Then I had me and my uncle, my Titos, coming with me, but it changes every now and then, everywhere I went. I was always an outcast, and with that, I just always fueled myself to just keep going. You can’t just stop or else it’s just, you’re not going to get anywhere.”

College Years at FEU: Embracing Challenges and Defining Roles

Transitioning to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws marked a pivotal chapter in Stockton’s basketball journey. Joining a team already brimming with talent – including Ken Tuffin, Arvin Tolentino, and Hubert Cani – under the mentorship of esteemed coach Olsen Racela, Alec faced the formidable task of carving out his niche.

Reflecting on this period, Alec shared, “I was just trying to come in, fill in a role for whatever was missing.” Recognizing the team’s established dynamics, he sought to contribute in areas that needed reinforcement. Initially known for his playmaking abilities, Alec admitted, “I wasn’t really much of a defender.” However, understanding the team’s needs, he committed to evolving into a defensive asset, stating, “So, that was something that led up to that, being a defensive player, defensive stopper.”

This transformation wasn’t instantaneous. Alec’s hunger to make a meaningful impact was evident in his relentless work ethic during practices. He recounted intense sessions with RJ Abarrientos: “Me and RJ would really go crazy. Sila Coach Gilbert, Coach Jonas, they would always say we’re like manok. It’s like Sabong on any single drill, we’ll go crazy, just bumping each other, diving on loose balls, and that definitely paid out for me.”

But Alec’s defining moments didn’t just come in practice. They came under the brightest lights of The Big Dome and MOA Arena, against the biggest programs, when the expectations were highest.

FEU was rarely the team the media hyped up as the title favorite. That distinction belonged to powerhouses like Ateneo, La Salle, and eventually, UP – programs loaded with blue-chip recruits, pro-bound talent, and rosters built to dominate. Stockton, though, never bought into the hierarchy.

“For sure. I mean, you want it to be known [that] you’re a top dog too, you can compete amongst the best, and prove that you belong to the league,” he asserted. When asked if he ever had the “Fuck these guys” mentality when facing the top programs, he didn’t hesitate.

“I treat pretty much everybody the same on the court. I mean, if you’re on the other side, it’s over. Like, I’m going to try and do my best to make sure you don’t score or whatnot.”

And when facing the biggest names in the UAAP, Alec saw those matchups as personal challenges. “For the top dogs, obviously, you want to be able to gauge yourself, the likes of Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez De Liaño… like, they’re one of the best in the league. So, you want to make sure that you can prove yourself, that you can stand your ground.”

He relished being the irritant – the defensive specialist who made opponents earn everything, scratching, clawing, and complaining to the referees. His job wasn’t just to play defense; it was to disrupt, to frustrate, to make life hell for the opposing star.

But Alec’s biggest “what if” came in Season 80, when FEU nearly did the unthinkable – eliminate the Tab Baldwin-coached Blue Eagles before their dynasty could even begin.

The Tamaraws, despite being the fourth seed, had shocked Ateneo by winning Game 1 of the Final Four, forcing a do-or-die showdown. Then, in Game 2, they found themselves on the brink of history.

Up three points with just 14 seconds left, the moment was theirs. Just one stop. Just one play.

But fate had other plans.

“For sure, there are a lot of ‘what ifs’… We were up by three with 14 seconds to go, Ateneo ball. We were supposed to switch. Matt Nieto gets the hand-off on a ball screen, we didn’t end up switching, he gets a low drive, had the two defenders committing, kicks it out to Isaac Go, and the rest was history.”

Go’s shot splashed through the net, sending the game into overtime. FEU had more chances, but even in extra time, Ateneo found ways to stay alive. Stockton recalled how “even Isaac Go hit a shot where he was falling down on the floor.” There was nothing left to do but watch as the game – and their dreams of glory – slipped away.

But the loss didn’t just end their championship hopes. It changed the trajectory of UAAP history. Had FEU closed out that thriller, Ateneo’s dynasty – three straight championships, an undefeated season, an era of dominance – might have never materialized.

And if they had won? Would defending champion La Salle have overwhelmed them in the Finals? Or would FEU, riding the momentum of eliminating mighty Ateneo, have claimed the championship for themselves?

Alec Stockton will never know the answer.

“It might have been meant to be that the dynasty was supposed to start [then].”

But for those who watched that game, for those who saw how close FEU was to rewriting history, the thought will always linger:

What if?

The Road to PBA Prosperity

On March 14, 2021, Stockton’s basketball journey took a significant turn when he was selected 21st overall by the Alaska Aces in the PBA Rookie Draft.

“Anxious and excited at the same time when my name got called by Alaska, a historic franchise,” Stockton recalled. It was the next step in a path he had long envisioned for himself – but nothing was ever handed to him.

Stockton knew he was destined for this, but he didn’t take shortcuts: he played the role required of him, used the knowledge from that experience to make his game more well-rounded. A jack of all trades. He started off as a playmaker, dishing beautiful dimes to kids in the streets of NYC. He learned how to stare the best offensive players of the opposition in the eyes and maneuvered to lock them down, frustrating them to exhaustion. And now, his scoring prowess had caught up.

Transitioning from FEU to the PBA, Stockton recognized the need to evolve beyond just being a defensive specialist. “For me, coming from college, coming from FEU, I was already a defender. So, I wanted to make sure I add onto that, another layer to my game,” he explains. “Everybody was telling me I couldn’t shoot, so I had to work on that part of my game. Ball handling as well, pretty much every aspect of the game.”

Under the mentorship of Jeff Cariaso and Tony dela Cruz at Alaska, Stockton diligently refined his offensive skills while ensuring his signature defensive tenacity remained intact. “Coach Tony was always on my ear when I first got drafted. He was always telling me to just make sure you keep building your game, and don’t lose hope, just continue to work.”

That perseverance paid off when he became a key player for the FiberXers, blossoming into a franchise cornerstone. He proved he could do more than just defend and facilitate – he could take over games. This conference, he’s averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal a game on 44% FG, 40% 3PT, and 76% FT.

Nothing highlighted that growth more than his buzzer-beating game-winner against the San Miguel Beermen in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals. In an epic comeback, Stockton drilled a contested jumper at the horn, sealing a 114-112 triumph and keeping Converge’s playoff hopes alive. He was immediately surrounded by ecstatic teammates, giving him hugs, high-fives, and emphatic chest bumps. It was the kind of moment reserved for stars – and Stockton had finally arrived as one.

“Through it all, I’m just so grateful to the Converge franchise, to Boss Dennis, Boss Delta, Boss Jacob, Boss Frank, and the rest of the coaching staff—especially Coach Willy, who’s always in my ear, pushing me to keep improving every single day.”

Beyond team practices, Stockton and his teammates – including Deschon Winston, Alex Cabagnot, Justin Arana, and Jordan Heading – engage in heated one-on-one battles, competing for a “King of the Court” title belt.

“We actually play a lot of one-on-one together,” Stockton shared. “So, we have a belt that says ‘King of the Court.’ We play once in a while… We really take pride in just winning those ones, every single time. We’re spar partners. I mean, nobody’s trying to lose, and that’s bragging rights at the end of the day.”

Stockton’s rise from underrated defender to go-to guy speaks to his relentless work ethic. “It’s a blessing… that seed was very hungry, determined, and for sure, was going to persevere throughout whatever it takes to be able to grow and see its full potential.”

The Family Man

When the conversation shifts to family, Stockton’s demeanor softens. His competitive fire – evident when discussing his evolution as a player – gives way to a deep, heartfelt reflection. His eyes light up when asked whether his dedication to fatherhood stems from his own experiences growing up without a consistent father figure. Before answering, he pauses, visibly searching within himself for the right words.

“For sure. I wanted to give [my kids] something that I never had. I really take pride in that, trying to be a great role model for my son,” he finally said. Stockton is already a proud father, and with a second son on the way, his enthusiasm for fatherhood has only grown. With a grin, he adds, “My second boy is coming in, so I’m about to be the future Lavar Ball. For those college coaches out there, watch out. Baby Stockton coming on your way.”

But while he jokes about his sons’ future in basketball, Stockton is clear about his true priority: raising them to be good men. He doesn’t believe in forcing a path upon them but rather leading by example, shaping their values through his actions. 

“I’d say I’ll just be in between, you know what I mean? As much as you want to be hands-on, and try to put control, and put them in a good situation… at the same time, you can only do so much, and it depends on what environment they’re in. For me, I just try to make sure I set out a good example for them: as a good dad, a respectable person, loving your family, and making sure you look out for others, give back to your community. And surely enough, by the time they hit a certain age, they’ll know what to do.”

That same sense of balance applies to his life outside hoops. While his commitment to the game remains relentless, he carves out precious time for his loved ones. “We have a little tradition that we do during the off day,” he shares. “We like to go on little adventure trips, mostly off-grid type of stuff. Exploring wilderness or being at the beach.” These moments, away from the noise of the league, are his reset button – a chance to be present, to appreciate the beauty of nature, and to build lifelong memories with his family.

He knows his legacy won’t just be measured in championships, game-winners, or accolades – it will be written in the lives of the sons he’s raising, the lessons he’s passing down, and the example he’s setting, both on and off the court.