ACES, ENERGY COLA TRY TO SUSTAIN SURPRISING RUNS
ALASKA coach Luigi Trillo and Barako Bull active consultant Rajko Toroman have been around enough to appreciate each other’s teams.
Still, such mutual admiration must take the back seat when the Aces and Energy Cola collide Sunday for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup’s solo leadership at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both are looking for a third straight victory in as many outings, not bad a start at all for squads not given much second looks before the conference started due to their lowly finishes in the recent past.
Yet each has a shot at being in the most coveted of slots and Trillo and Toroman readily offer some reasons why the other’s wards are performing beyond expectations thus far.
“They are the team with the least turnovers per game,” started Trillo in his enumeration. “They have two of the best point guards in the league in (Josh) Urbiztondo and (Jonas) Villanueva. (Allein) Maliksi, (Jojo) Duncil and (JC) Intal will help that team.”
Toroman has a ready counter. “Alaska plays good, developed good chemistry in the previous conference, has excellent import,” he stated.
Indeed, Alaska has a versatile reinforcement in Robert Dozier, who seems to be still improving. After scoring 21 points in his debut game, he notched 27 in his next. Averages of 15.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks went with the process.
Evan Brock has been no slouch for Barako either, proving to be more of an all-around guy. He has averaged 21.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in wins over San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort.
With significant contributions from Urbiztondo (20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists) and Villanueva (17.0 points, 5.5 assists), Barako has managed to buck the absence of the injured Enrico Villanueva, Sean Anthony, Roger Yap, Celino Cruz and JC Intal, although the latter is fit enough to suit up and play.
Maliksi and Macapagal have also so far struggled from the field, although a big boost for the former Meralco Bolt and record three-time Three-Point King is the clutch triple he boomed in that sent the game against GlobalPort into overtime and from there a 98-88 win last Sunday.
Those facts are not lost on Trillo. ” It is not the Barako team of last year anymore. They have a balanced lineup. Toroman’s system really makes you work defensively,” he said.
Toroman also knows Alaska should prove to be a very tough nut to crack, what with Cyrus Baguio and Calvin Abueva ably supporting Dozier on the offensive end while Sonny Thoss helps along defensively.
“It’s gonna be a difficult game for us,” said Toroman. “We’re still struggling with injured players, but I hope we’ll put up a good fight and hope for the best.” (NC)
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