Louie Alas moves on, thanks Phoenix for coaching tenure

Former Phoenix coach Louie Alas. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Louie Alas remained a class act after his surprise sacking as head coach of the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

Alas offered nothing but well-wishes and praise for his former team and the Phoenix management a day after he was fired.

“Coaching the Phoenix Fuel Masters the past 3 years has been a great honor and privilege to me, and I thank the entire management, headed by Boss Dennis A. Uy for giving me all the support during my tenure,” Alas said in a statement Saturday.

“I have great respect for all the players I have coached and I also want to thank all the coaches I have worked with who poured out their hearts and their efforts to the goal we envisioned to attain,” he added.

The 56-year-old Alas, who has won titles in the NCAA, ABL and the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, coached Phoenix for two seasons.

He led the Fuel Masters to a top-seed finish in the 2019 Philippine Cup, where the team also had its breakthrough semifinals appearance.

“Last, but not the least, I want to thank the Phoenix Fuel Masters community for being so welcoming to me during my time here. I wish Coach Topex and the entire team nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”

Topex Robinson, who served as Alas’ deputy, has been promoted to head coach on an interim capacity.

Alas was suspended for 15 days by the team last Aug. 27 for unintentional breach of three health and safety guidelines during the team’s training resumption.

The Fuel Masters struggled in what turned out to be Alas’ final two conferences with the team last year but largely due to the indefinite suspension of their star forward Calvin Abueva during the Commissioner’s Cup.