Louie Alas hasn’t been a head coach for the last five years, that’s why it’s quite understandable if he’s undergoing an adjustment period with his new role as bench tactician of the Phoenix Fuel Masters for the PBA’s new season which tips off next weekend.
“Ako personally I’m struggling kasi I’ve been an assistant coach for more than five years and I still want to get into a rhythm,” said Alas, who was hired by the Fuel Masters after spending the last five seasons as assistant coach of the Alaska Aces.
Alas hasn’t been head coach since 2012 when he ended a lengthy stint with the Letran Knights in the NCAA. His last PBA duty came in 2001 with a two-year tenure for the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals.
Management decided to go with Alas in lieu of Ariel Vanguardia after Phoenix’s 2016-17 campaign began with two quarterfinal exits but ended on a sour note when a 2-0 start was followed by a nine-game losing skid, missing the playoffs in the process.
Phoenix still has Matthew Wright to rely on but added playmaker LA Revilla in a trade from Kia and rookie Jason Perkins as the fourth overall pick in the draft to boost the team’s chance of reaching past the quarters for the first time in history.
Perkins has showed potential during a recent pocket tournament, and Alas feels the former La Salle standout can carry that showing by the time the season-opening Philippine Cup starts on Dec. 17.