Alas won’t come back as Letran’s head coach next season

Head coach Louie Alas won’t be back with Letran next season. Photo by Celest R. Flores/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Louie Alas’ coaching stint with Letran started with a championship, and ended with a huge loss in game three of the NCAA 88 finals Friday.

Alas, after his squad’s 39-67 clobbering by San Beda, told the media Friday that he won’t be back as the Knights’ head coach for the next season.

“Sayang lang kasi yung last game ko, nanalo sana [kami],” said an exhausted Alas. “Hindi na muna ako [ang mag-coach sa kanila next season], papahinga muna. It’s time to move on.”

Alas thought his squad failed to match San Beda’s intensity all game long.

“Every single possession umaatake sila eh. Di namin nasuklian intensity nila. San Beda deserved to be the champions,” said Alas.

But the thought of calling it a day as the coach, according to Alas, wasn’t out of frustration after his squad just got a sound beating in the finals decider.

“Matagal ko na naiisip [na umalis]. I really love Letran pero pwede naman sila magkaroon ng maayos na coach,” said Alas, who first helped Letran to a title in 1998.

After a title in his coaching debut, he once again steered the Knights to a title in 2003 and in 2005.

“I learned a lot while coaching Letran,” said Alas, who’s also part of Alaska’s coaching staff in the PBA.

But when asked if the door remaines ajar for him to stay if the management insists, Alas firmly said there’s no changing his mind.

And trying to keep a healthy relationship — as a father and a coach at the same time — with his two sons in the squad was the key to his decision of leaving.

“Kaya ko rin gagawin ito, kasi nag-s-suffer din relationship namin ni Jun Jun and Kevin (Alas), I’ve been very very hard to them every time,” Alas said.

Under his tutelage, Kevin Alas has improved from a trigger-happy guard to a matured, unselfish star he is today — towing the Knights to a finals appearance.

Alas said he hasn’t formally informed the school or submitted a resignation letter yet, but is confident the management will understand his decision.

“Di ko pa nasasabi sa school, pero maiintindihan naman nila ako. Lahat ng decision making when it comes to the basketball program, they tell me ‘it’s your job’,” said Alas.

Alas, though, would like to stay on until December to help the squad with the transition and would even “recommend himself as a consultant.”

“Aayusin ko muna siguro yung dapat ayusin (with the team until December),” Alas.