CASIO-LESS ACES TRY TO THWART BATANG PIER’S AMBUSH PLANS
IT IS not entirely correct to say Jayvee Casio’s worth to Alaska is immeasurable. After all, there are some solid numbers to bear this out.
The Aces have to overcome the continued absence of their premier point guard if they hope to hurdle a bristling GlobalPort Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier are on a five-game slide and are straining at the leash to cut short the freefall and fan their flickering campaign.
“Survival mode,” was how GlobalPort Junel Baculi succinctly put it.
Casio’s absence should help the Batang Pier’s cause. He sat out Alaska’s game against Air21 last Friday to rest an old kneecap injury and he is only set to return next week.
“Since San Mig Coffee game (last March 6) masakit na,” related coach Luigi Trillo. “We just kept it from other teams. Kaya masama ang shooting niya. A couple of days ago hindi na niya maitakbo.”
More than the former No. 1 pick overall’s 7.2 points, 4.28 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game, sorely missed by Alaska was his playmaking that puts order in its offensive sets.
The inability of the other Aces to step up and fill the void was what Trillo largely blamed for their 68-74 loss to the Express.
“JV Casio has been clearly missed, but it does not make it an excuse that if he is not there we cannot take care of the basketball,” said Trillo. “We committed 24 turnovers. We have not had that in a long time.”
Indeed, those miscues were 10 above the conference norm for Alaska, a fact compounded when the likes of Cyrus Baguio, RJ Jazul and Sonny Thoss failed to provide Robert Dozier with the needed support.
It’s not that GlobalPort is without its own concerns.
Foremost among those, said Baculi, is his team’s own inability to make stops that causes his team to give up almost 95 points to the opposing team.
“We need to toughen up on defense,” he stated. “We’re dead-last because of defense or the desire to play defense.”
Batang Pier import Walter Sharpe is also expected to turn in a better performance. In a 94-106 loss to Air21 last Sunday the 6-9 replacement for Justin Williams debuted with 24 points and nine rebounds but got struck by cramps in the fourth period and was hardly a factor in the endgame.
In a team that also boasts of known scorers in Gary David, Sol Mercado and Willie Miller, it is Japeth Aguilar who Baculi wants most to throw his weight around to help free up GlobalPort’s snipers.
“Japeth should assert himself more, especially his inside presence,” said Baculi. (NC)
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