Kieffer Alas leads Team Hustle to victory in NBTC All-Star Game
Kieffer Alas (with ball) and Team Hustle in the 2024 NBTC National Finals All-Star Game. –NBTC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Team Hustle outlasted Team Heart, 114-106, in the 2024 NBTC National Finals All-Star Game at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Kieffer Alas spearheaded Team Hustle with 24 points and the All-Star Game MVP honors to match.
“I just wanted to enjoy the game, being with the Finals MVP here (Titing Manalili) and season MVP (Amiel Acido), we just tried to enjoy the game,” said Alas, whose father Louie and brother Kevin were watching on the sidelines, in Filipino.
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“Though I didn’t expect the game to be intense. We even almost lost.”
Even before the star-studded game, the De La Salle-Zobel swingman also got a taste of gold after winning the Skills Challenge included in the Saturday festivities.
Titing Manalili, who earlier won the NCAA Season 99 boys’ basketball crown with Letran, also played for Team Hustle despite fatigue and ended up with 11 points.
“I was tired but I still went here because I wanted to meet the other players [in Team Hustle] and for us to have a connection. I’m happy and also excited because we’ll have a victory party later,” an exhausted Manalili said in Filipino.
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In the girls’ NBTC All-Star game, Team Pride squeaked by Team Passion, 88-86, in a 40-minute back and forth affair.
Karylle Sierba was hailed as the game’s Adidas Believe That MVP of the game with 21 points including some crucial plays down the stretch in the down-the-wire bout.
Marinduque standout Mick Geronimo dethroned Batang Tiaong gunner John Rex Villanueva while Winnie Fernandez of STI-West Negros University became king in the Slam Dunk Contest.
To start All-Star Saturday, the NBTC National Prospects zoomed past Manila Live Aspirants, 104-97, in the Manila Showcase.
San Sebastian standout Sanlea Peñaverde, who’s been a revelation in this year’s National Finals, showed his scoring prowess anew with 25 points to push the Prospects to the victory.
