Alaska eyes lofty spot vs Blackwater

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Alaska has already shown it is fit and ready to make another run at the PBA Philippine Cup title.

Blackwater would be happy just to make a basic run, period.

The Aces and Elite slug it out Friday with the former, last year’s runner-up, eyeing to move alongside the idle leaders of the Smart Bro-sponsored season-opening tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A follow up win by Alaska to its 114-98 demolition job over pre-tournament favorite Talk N Text last Friday would push it in the company of Rain or Shine, NLEX and defending champion San Miguel Beer.

Blackwater, on the other hand, wants to bounce back from its 86-90 loss to NLEX in their conference debut also last Friday.

According to Aces coach Alex Compton, this year’s Elite are a far cry from the one who wound up with just four wins out of their first 33 games last season.

“Blackwater has definitely improved from last year and it was visible in their first game,” said Compton, noting how the Elite managed to duel the heavily-favored Road Warriors up to the last 31 seconds of their game.

“It will be important for us to sustain 48 minutes of high intensity defense if we want to win this game,” added Compton.

That is precisely what gnaws at Blackwater counterpart Leo Isaac the most.

“Iyung first unit nila mataas ang level of play niyan. Kapag pumalit na ang second unit nila ganu’n pa rin ang intensity, ang mataas na level of play nandu’n pa rin.

“Sana ganu’n din kami. Makasabay sana kami against a complete team like Alaska.”

For Blackwater to have a chance, added Isaac, his team must repeatedly disrupt Alaska’s game.

“Alaska is a contender team with experienced and very talented players. Matagal na rin silang magkakasama so nagkakaamuyan na ang mga iyan. Kailangan disiplinadong disiplinado ka kapag kalaban mo sila,” stated Isaac.

“Meron kaming inihandang depensa at sana maging effective.”

That gameplan suffered a blow of sorts with the absence of scrappy forward Gilbert Bulawan, who suffered a sprain in the NLEX game and would be out indefinitely.

Arthur dela Cruz could have helped, but he still has to wind up his commitments with San Beda Thursday and would only be available for Blackwater’s next game against Meralco on Wednesday.

Isaac just hopes his remaining players absorb the attitude he’s been trying to drill into them since the start of training camp and prove up to the task.

“As I’ve been telling them nga, it’s not about just being competitive anymore. It’s all about trying to get those wins. Di dumarating kusa iyon. Dapat pinag-tra-trabahuhan,” he said.

That toughness is indeed needed against an Alaska team bannered by the likes of Vic Manuel, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva, Cyrus Baguio and Jayvee Casio.

Jason Ballesteros, Raphy Reyes, Reil Cervantes and rookie Keith Agovida are expected to lead Blackwater anew, but Isaac said it would still take a complete team effort for them to prevail.

“We hope to improve from our game last Friday. Sana this time we can find that winning line at the end of the game,” said Isaac. (NC)

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