ACES, CARNIVAL TO GO FULL THROTTLE
ONE team that has been smitten by Kia’s recent giant-killing ways is Alaska.
“So far it has been an excellent conference for Kia as an expansion team and their fans should be very proud with the way they are playing,” stated Aces coach Alex Compton.
“I know all of us at Alaska are very impressed with them this conference.”
That doesn’t mean Compton and his charges would let themselves be included in the Carnival’s list of victims at the end of their matchup Tuesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A win is a must for both teams since they are scrambling to make it among the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs, especially Alaska.
“I think both teams will play very hard,” said Compton, an assessment that could be considered the understatement of the conference considering the circumstances.
After having lost two in a row the Aces are currently at 10th, one full game behind the Carnival, who have racked up victories over such multi-titled teams as San Miguel Beer, defending champion Purefoods Star and Talk N Text.
That is quite a mean feat for a squad that joined the league as an expansion team only this season.
Like the rest of the league, Compton knows fully well the secret to Kia’s success.
“For the first time in their short time in the PBA Kia has a distinct advantage in having an absolutely dominant import in PJ Ramos,” said Compton, referring to the 7-4, 300-lb Puerto Rican behemoth.
“He is a problem for anyone to handle and the local players are all stepping up and making plays as well.”
Indeed, the likes of LA Revilla, Leo Avenido, Mark Yee, Hyram Bagatsing and Eloy Poligrates have taken turns taking the lead in giving Ramos support.
More should step up now in this critical juncture before the league takes a much-needed rest break for the All-Star Weekend.
After the Puerto Princesa event, the Carnival will take on NLEX on March 18 and Rain or Shine on March 22.
The respite is a very welcome one for Chito Victolero, calling the shots for Kia while playing coach Manny Pacquiao preps for his May 2fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“We need to find that extra energy because this is our third game in a week,” he said.
Fatigue seems to have already set in for the Carnival in their last outing against fellow expansion team Blackwater last Saturday, when Ramos scored a season-high 49 points to go with 14 rebounds to jack his averages to 34.12 points and 19.5 rebounds. Only Avenido’s 10 points came as chief backup, however, and the Carnival lost 115-104.
For Alaska, it must shrug off its losses to Rain or Shine and Barako Bull, the last a 91-93 overtime heartbreaker last Tuesday, and also go full throttle from hereon in.
A win over Kia and against Blackwater next Wednesday should give the Aces the much-needed momentum when they wind up their elimination round assignments against Meralco March 17, TNT March 22 and Barangay Ginebra March 25. (NC)
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