By Rob Andrew Dongiapon ,
24 minutes ago
MANILA, Philippines -- Kieffer Alas has played only two UAAP games, but expectations for the rookie already resemble those placed on a veteran.
Perhaps that is the burden that comes with being as good as Kieffer Alas.
The 19-year-old is the kind of freshman expected to shoulder a heavy load, especially for an Ateneo team that has endured an unimaginable emotional and mental battle over the past three months following the sudden deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.
But against UP on Saturday night, Alas got his first real taste of what the UAAP can throw at him.
Alas scored 10 points but was limited to just two attempts and three points in the second half as the Fighting Maroons routed Ateneo, 94-75.
"It's our first real loss, after two months [of preseason]. I think this is the first real test we had, so I guess we just got to learn from it," Alas said after the game.
After a blistering first game against UE, when Alas dropped 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting in a 101-74 Ateneo rout, UP made sure he would not have the same freedom on offense.
The Fighting Maroons' defense constantly top-locked him on off-ball screens and...