Ace guard Alas ends up with Tropang Texters

Kevin Alas, the former NCAA superstar point guard with Letran, will play for powerhouse Talk ‘N Text when the 40th PBA Season opens with the Philippine Cup on Oct. 19 at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The 6-foot Alas, drafted second overall by Rain or Shine last August, found his way into his third squad after NLEX, a sister squad of the Tropang Texters, dealt him away in a three-team deal that also included newcomer Blackwater Elite and KG Canaleta.

The deal was approved by league commissioner Chito Salud yesterday with the Texters trading Canaleta to Blackwater, which gave up its first-round pick next year. The Elite later dealt Alas to the Road Warriors.

NLEX then shipped Alas to Talk ‘N Text for Larry Rodriguez and the Texters’ 2015 first-round pick.

Alas is regarded as the best homegrown point guard to come out of this season’s rookie draft following a sterling collegiate career under his father, Louie Alas, at Letran and a tour of duty under the Gilas Cadet program.

He actually played with the Gilas squad that finished third in the Fiba Asia Cup in China last July.

Rain or Shine drafted Alas when the Elasto Painters encountered trouble renewing Paul Lee’s contract. But with Lee ending up where his career started, Rain or Shine dealt Alas away.

The Tropang Texters are starting to rebuild under new coach Jong Uichico with Jimmy Alapag, the former MVP, turning 37 this season and the rest of the nucleus not getting any younger.

Interestingly, Blackwater ended up getting Rodriguez—who was receiving a P280,000 monthly salary—after passing up on the steady big man during the dispersal draft for being “expensive.”

Blackwater failed to sign up former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso because of salary issues and lost rookie Frank Golla to a recently discovered heart condition.