Nov 15, 2026
Louie Alas could have shown he was the ‘better man’
Social media can be very unforgiving. One wrong gesture can get you crucified online from harsh comments or hatred.
Just take the case of Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Louie Alas, who cursed and pointed at UP Maroons Jacob Bayla, not just once, after the latter dunked the ball in the dying seconds of a game lost by the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
I was very shocked at what Alas did. Even if Alas apologized later, the damage had been done. And the damage was not on the UP Maroons or Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The damage was on himself.
In this age where apologies are doubted, and granting forgiveness is no longer expected automatically from injured parties, public
figures need to very careful of their actions, gestures, statements, and words.
Alas was no exception.
At the start of this year’s UAAP season, Alas should have been aware of the “Aurora stigma” that still plagued Ateneo. I need not elaborate on that.
But with the baggage the Ateneo Blue Eagles team was carrying entering the current UAAP season, Alas had the chance to show that he was the “better man.” Or somebody who would exercise utmost humility even in the face of possible losses and setbacks, and the stigma caused by the Aurora incident.
But that was not the case.
His action of entering the court, literally, during the dying seconds after Bayla scored, and
cursing and pointing repeatedly at the UP Maroons player was totally out of bounds.
Such behavior can also be allegedly called entitled, and perhaps the reason for that is the Ateneo Blue Eagles dominated the UAAP men’s basketball tournament under Tab Baldwin.
Or is it because of Ateneo De Manila’s elite image?
Or was Alas carrying too much on his shoulder expectations he should duplicate the sterling record of his Baldwin, his predecessor?
Perhaps we can give some sympathy toward Alas too, because of the enormous challenge he had to face this UAAP season. And his son – Keifer – being on the team may have added to that pressure.
And here is my appeal – please spare Keifer from all of this.
But it is during such adverse or challenging scenarios, even if the odds seem daunting, that an individual can still show that he is the better person.
Alas failed.
And come to think of it - this is collegiate basketball where the stakes are not as enormous compared to the professional versions of basketball itself, motorsports, boxing, MMA, tennis, among many others.
On Bayla, I even think his dunk was “decent” and not theatrical like what we see in the NBA.
I mean, what if Bayla dunked the ball like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant do? Would Alas gone berserk?
I don’t know.
Alas being an elderly citizen also carried a lot of weight, as there is this perception that there are members of the older generation who feel entitled simply because they are older. And elderly citizens who are self-righteous manner are frowned upon by society, especially the Gen Zs.
And we must admire elderly citizens who are not self-righteous and accord respect and not simply demand it. I need not explain that.
But an elderly acting like a candy bar was snatched from his hand?
If Alas just “let go” of Bayla’s dunk and approached the UP bench to congratulate them, things would have been very different for him now. I would have been admired greatly.
From the UP side, I saw one or two members of the basketball team shove their team mates
away from where Alas stood, which helped deescalate tensions. That is a very commendable act.
So, who are the models in the sports world who have demonstrated that they have their better selves still intact despite losing even when the stake was immense?
There are lots of them. Let’s pick a few like Manny Pacquiao.
When he got knocked out cold by Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth bout in December 2012, Pacquiao took the defeat gracefully and congratulated the Mexican.
Then there’s Alex Eala, who despite losing badly in some occasions takes losing very gracefully and with utmost humility. No wonder Eala is very much loved by her fans and her peers.
Sports does have a way of imparting lessons to fans, and among them is showing the better side of human beings, especially when losing.
Athletes accepting defeat with grace and showing their “better self” counts a lot today, especially with the very unforgiving nature of social media.
But sad to say, there are persons who never developed that “better self” at all.
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