2015-16 PBA PH Cup Preview: Alaska Aces vs Meralco Bolts

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On paper, both Meralco and Alaska should be among the stronger teams in the league, but in reality they cannot be any more different with the Bolts unable to meet their potential and the Aces reeling in wins in 6 of their 7 assignments. They are on opposite ends of the spectrum right now, but today these opposites will attract and collide.

The Bolts seemed headed for a turnaround when they beat the Hotshots about a week ago, but losses to “weaker” teams NLEX and Mahindra have pulled them back to earth with a loud thud. There is still a chance Meralco can  make the quarterfinals if they can finish in 10th place, but to do that they will need to win perhaps 2 of their last 3 games.

The Aces, meanwhile, are riding high on the crest of a three-game winning run. They have been one of the most dominant teams so far this conference, and they would want nothing more than to continue their winning ways, especially since they face ROS and SMB back-to-back after this game. A win here should cement their place at the top of the league table.

1. HYPED ON HODGE

– Cliff Hodge had an awesome game in Meralco’s last contest, puting up a huge double-double, but still they lost. He has been a little inconsistent for the Bolts this conference, so that double-double was a good shot in the arm. The Bolts are hoping of course that it will ignite even more good games for the Fil-Am. 

Last game: 14pts, 20rebs, 2asts, 1blk, 6/10 FGs

Stats: 9.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0bpg, 43.1 FG%

2. ALAPAG + AMER: MASTER & STUDENT

– Baser Amer looks to be Meralco’s point guard for the future, but he still has a long way to go and veteran PG Jimmy Alapag is around to show him the ropes. Amer has been inconsistent so far, but his previous game showed some promise, specifically about his scoring and playmaking ability. If he can channel those skills and develop them well, he could be a top tier playmaker soon.

Last game Alapag: 10pts, 2asts, 1stl, 2 triples.

Last game Amer: 10pts, 3rebs, 3asts, 1stl. 

Alapag stats: 4.9ppg, 4.3apg, 1.0 triple per game.

Amer stats: 4.1ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.4apg, 38.2 FG%

3. MERALCO: GET THOSE BOARDS!

– Meralco has had a lot of problems this season, but maybe the biggest one has been rebounding, where the Bolts are dead last in the league. In fact, they have been rebounded in all but two of their eight games so far, with Mahindra pounding them on the glass, 49-41, in their previous game. With guys like Hodge, Al-Hussaini, Hugnatan, Newsome, and Faundo, however, the Bolts should do much better in this department.

Last game rebs: MAH 49, MER 41

*Meralco is dead last in rebs with 44.3rpg. Their foes average 48.1rpg, which means they are outrebounded, on average, by about 4 rebounds per contest.

4. THOSS: BOSSING FOES AROUND

– The Boss, Sonny Thoss, did a great job of bossing people around in their last game, recording a nifty 16-point, 10-rebound double-double as Alaska beat NLEX. Thoss was so good he was able to limit Asi Taulava in that game, and he will have to play well here too if he is to hold back Rabeh Al-Hussaini. 

Last game: 16pts, 10rebs, 2asts, 6/10 FGs

Stats: 10.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.3apg, 56.4 FG%

5. ALASKA: WICKED WINGS!

– The wicked wingman combo of Rome dela Rosa and Calvin Abueva has been a very effective weapon for the Aces so far this season. They played really well in the Aces’ beating of the Road Warriors in their last game, and they will have their hands full here also against Meralco’s deep wing corps composed of Gary David, Chris Newsome, and Jared Dillinger. If dela Rosa and Abueva, both of whom are tenacious defenders and opportunistic offensive players, can disrupt Meralco’s wing attack, the Aces should be in great shape.

Dela Rosa last game: 11pts, 2rebs, 1ast, 2 triples.

Abueva last game: 10pts, 10rebs, 4asts, 4blks, 4/7 FGs.

Dela Rosa stats: 5.0ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.0apg, 55.6 FG%

Abueva stats: 13.4ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 1.0 triple per gane, 36.8 3pt%, 43.4 FG%

6. ALASKA: FLUID OFFENSE

– One thing that has really set Alaska apart this conference is how fluid and effective their offense has been. Alaska is among the top teams in the league in scoring, FG%, 3pt%, and assists. They have been beating foes by an average of 8 points per game, maximizing their plethora of weapons. They can go down low to Thoss and Vic Manuel, drive hard with Abueva, Banchero, and Baguio, or torch opponents from long range with Casio, Hontiveros, and Jazul. They just have so many people they can throw to hurt their opponents.

Alaska league averages:

101.4ppg – 2nd overall

44.8 FG% – 2nd overall

36.6 3pt% – 2nd overall (7.6 per game)

21.4apg – 2nd overall

7. KEY MATCH-UP: GARY DAVID X CYRUS BAGUIO

– The play of veterans David and Baguio will be critical in this game. Meralco needs to desperately stretch the defense to open things up for Rabeh and Cliff, and only David can really do that consistently (Alapag has been on and off). As for Baguio, when he plays well, Alaska tends to be in a great position to win. He has upped his scoring somewhat in their last 3 games, so having him as a main part of Alaska’s offense will be key.

David Last game: 18pts, 1reb, 2asts, 2 triples, 5/9 FGs.

Baguio Last game: 4pts, 2rebs, 4asts, 1stl, 2/10 FGs.

David Stats: 20.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.3apg, 2.4 triples per game, 35.8 3pt%, 47.2 FG%

Baguio stats: 8.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.0apg, 36.8 FG%

Baguio last 3 games: 11.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.0apg, 36.4 FG%

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TAGS: 2016 Philippine Cup, alaska aces, Meralco Bolts, pba

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