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ALASKA’s current roster is loaded with tools and has fully embraced and utilized the system put into place by coach Luigi Trillo.

But even Trillo was amazed at the quickness in which his Aces won their first PBA championship under him.

“I’m just overwhelmed right now,” said Trillo following Alaska’s 104-80 victory over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday that completed the Aces’ three-game sweep of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title duel before a record crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi,” replied Trillo when somebody asked him if he expected to have a crown under his belt in just his third conference at the Alaska helm.

Even the thought of sweeping a team like Ginebra and in such a dominant fashion did not cross his mind, related Trillo.

“If you told me we’d beat Ginebra three straight? No,” he declared. “If you’d told me we’re better over Ginebra by 20 points coming into every game? No.”

Yet his Aces did exactly that and in a variety of ways that led to the same conclusion.

Alaska took full advantage of Ginebra’s poor opening quarter for an 87-70 win in the opener, followed that up with a 104-90 victory off a sustained charge from the second quarter on, before closing the deal on the strength of a fiery 20-2 windup in what would be the deciding match.

In the end, the 24-point final win, watched by a new all-time record of 23,436 paying fans, highlighted the Aces’ 18.3-point average winning margin over the Kings in the Cebuana Lhuillier-sponsored series.

As a direct consequence, Alaska has a 14th franchise title in the bag and the first in the post-Tim Cone era.

For Trillo, who served as assistant to Cone for nearly 14 years before taking over just three conferences ago, it all seems surreal.

“You know, you need to go through some pains. I’ve been through so many pains,” related Trillo, who once had a 29-game losing streak as head coach in the UAAP and got the broom himself in each of his championship stints in the PBL and PBA D-League.

Even in his first conference at the Alaska helm as interim head coach during last season’s Fiesta Conference, Trillo’s Aces wound up ninth.

“But you learn,” stressed the 36-year-old. “But I still didn’t think, not by any means, na it would come like this.”

Admittedly, some pieces were already in place when Cone left in September, 2011, and by successor Joel Banal. It was simply a matter of Trillo bringing in a few others to complete the picture.

“When I came in I thought we built a good foundation,” related Trillo. “That’s why I have a lot of thank you for (team owner) Sir Fred (Uytengsu). He allowed me to get some trades in. We got (RJ) Jazul, we got (Gabby) Espinas. It was an understanding between me and LA (Tenorio) that he wanted to move forward. It was an amicable decision and we were lucky.

“We got Dondon (Hontiveros) and Jayvee (Casio) and then Calvin (Abueva) fell into place and s’werte rin kami kay (import) Robert (Dozier). But I feel blessed to be surrounded by good guys, character guys. Hanggang sa third group namin, Eddie Laure, Nic Belasco. Nandoon ang pundasyon.”

Encouraging signs were already had when the team wound up fourth in the season-opening Philippine Cup. Then came the Commissioner’s Cup which Alaska started with a five-game streak and went on to top the eliminations.

“A bit of luck. we went on that roll and then we took care of business early,” said Trillo. “We figured out Air21 (in the quarterfinals), we figured out San Mig (Coffee in the semifinals), the only teams that beat us in the eliminations.”

Ginebra itself was on a dream run, shaking off a 0-4 start to finish the elims at No. 7. It then went on to overcome second-seed Rain or Shine in the quarters and powerhouse Talk N Text in the semis, also through a twice-to-win handicap.

“I’m so proud of my team, my players, it’s been a wonderful ride from 0-4,” said Kings coach Alfrancis Chua.

“Ang sarap ng feeling, di ko akalaing makakapasok sa ganitong championship. I know it’s 3-0, pero there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Iyung dinaanan namin, classic.”

It could have been extended, had Mark Caguioa not suffered a knee injury late in the elims and reinforcement Vernon Macklin a severely bruised right thigh in the TNT series.

“All my players, pagod na pagod na. My plan was, papaikutin lahat,” added Chua. “Siguro kung five minutes lang, kayang talunin. Pero kapag ganito katagal ang ballgame hindi talaga tatagal ang mga bata.”

Even Trillo had to give Ginebra some praise for putting up a gallant stand despite it being wracked by injuries and playing in almost each playdate since the semis. “Credit to Ginebra,” he said. “Macklin may injury, Mark not 100 percent. It was a different Ginebra team.”

Alaska is also with its walking wounded with Casio (knees), Abueva (knee), Sonny Thoss (back), Espinas (back) and Cyrus Baguio (ankle and back).

Yet play through those Alaska did and was amply rewarded in the end.

The season-ending Fiesta Conference kicks off Aug. 14 and while other teams are already well into their preparations, Trillo has other plans in the meantime.

“Let me enjoy this muna for a while,” he said. (NC)

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