NLEX guard Kevin Alas out for 8 months due to ACL injury

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Kevin Alas is expected to out for the next eight months after tearing his ACL in his right knee.

The NLEX guard confirmed the news after meeting with esteemed orthopedic Dr. Raul Canlas on Monday morning.

“Initial diagnosis of Dr. Canlas is an ACL tear. I’ll be out for eight months, but I have a scheduled MRI at 2 p.m. for further analysis,” he said.

Coach Yeng Guiao also shared the bad news, saying, “He’s already out for the series.”

Alas hurt his right knee when he drove against Magnolia’s Mark Barroca and Paul Lee 40 seconds into Game 5 on Sunday. He tweaked his knee and writhed in pain.

He was immediately taken back to the dugout.

Alas said he felt his “knee lock and buckle” as he made his move to the rim.

NLEX lost the game, 87-78, as Magnolia took a 3-2 series lead in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

Alas’ absence is huge for the Road Warriors. He averaged 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the first four games of the series.

Without the 26-year-old guard, the burden of the playmaking duties will now be on the shoulders of super rookie Kiefer Ravena.