UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas ‘floating in the air’ after clutch outing for Alas Pilipinas

UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas made the most of his international debut, rising to the occasion to help Alas Pilipinas secure a rousing four-set victory, 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 25-22, against Indonesia’s Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi on Tuesday, June 10, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Batas entered the match late in the fourth set with Alas Men holding a slim 17-16 lead against the defending Proliga champions.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles superstar immediately made his presence felt, scoring back-to-back points, including a massive kill block that pushed the national team to match point and eventually to a win to open their campaign in the three-day Alas Pilipinas Invitationals.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud siya kasi pinagkatiwalaan ako ng coaches na crucial moment ‘yun, so thankful ako sa kanila,” Batas, who finished with three points, told reporters.

“Yung moment na ‘yun, it was like floating in the air. Ineembrace ko lang lahat ng nangyayari.”

Fresh off an MVP-winning campaign in UAAP Season 87, Batas admitted that the jump to the international level was a big step—but one he is fully embracing.

“I would say ready naman ako pero ayun, international na ito. Pero then again, sobrang nakaka-proud talaga.”

“Sobrang excited ako kasi first time ko ito and then, naging ready lang ako, always ready ang queen,” he added.

Now with Alas Men, Batas hopes to use the experience not just for his own growth, but to uplift others around him, especially his Blue Eagle teammates.

“Siguro this is my opportunity to gain more experience and knowledge about volleyball na puwede kong ma-share sa mga teammates ko and sa mga bata,” he added.

[ALSO READ: Kennedy Batas hopes to follow historic UAAP MVP with Final Four breakthrough with Ateneo]

The win gave Alas Men a strong start to the round-robin tournament, where they aim to build cohesion and chemistry for the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship in September.