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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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25
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
25
2024
Alaska Aces. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Just everything is looking up against for Alaska Milk after its traumatic finish in the PBA Philippine Cup finals and after losing champion import Rob Doziers to injury ahead of its first game in the second conference.
With another prized import catch in Shane Edwards, the Aces have been off to a swashbuckling 2-1 start, and they have a shot at solo second place as they take on the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
The Aces’ morale and confidence are soaring high coming from back-to-back decisive victories over the Tropang TNT Texters and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Edwards was a tremendous boost for the Aces in both games, with the former Arkansas-Little Rock alum coming through with 36 points and 20 rebounds in their 108-100 whipping of the Texters then getting away with 23 markers and 11 boards in their 128-102 demolition of the E-Painters.
And his intensity and energy have easily rubbed off to his teammates.
“It’s better when you have a good import. That’s the No. 1 game plan. He came to work,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
A problem for Alaska is when Dozier recovers from his injury (plantar fasciitis).
“I told the coaches, I hope Shane gives me a really hard time,” Compton added. “I hope he gives me a problem. But we love Rob, we signed him. Rob was awesome in practice before he got injured. Shane came in because of Rob’s injury. I hope we win every game with Shane and then let me deal with that problem.”
In the meantime, the Aces hope to get going with Edwards, shooting for a third straight win against a Phoenix side which has taken a fall after a triumphant PBA debut.
After blasting the NLEX Road Warriors, 118-106, the Fuel Masters dropped their next two games against the Meralco Bolts (87-90) and Texters (96-108).
They yielded their last game with a new import in Kevinn Pinkney.
But coach Koy Banal is keeping a positive stand. “I want to be positive about that decision,” he said.
Pinkney, a replacement to Kenny Adeleke, had a good account of himself versus the Texters, delivering 26 points on 13-of-18 shooting plus 19 rebounds.
“What can you expect from a guy who practiced for three days? You can’t do a lot in three days. We wanted to make the game plan as simple as possible for him to easily cope up with our team,” Banal said.
The Phoenix bench chieftain is hopeful things would be better in their second game with him.
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