INJURY-HOBBLED ACES CONFIDENT OF REPEATING OVER BOOSTERS
Alaska has no more Renaldo Balkman to think about in its rematch with Petron Blaze.
The Aces, however, face a more daunting task as they’re without injured key players Jayvee Casio and Sonny Thoss in tangling with the Boosters in the main tiff of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Holy Wednesday presentation at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Casio is still resting an injured kneecap while Thoss is out with a sore back.
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, however, remains confident they would go out and compete even with Casio and Thoss confined on the bench.
They barely dropped their last game against the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 83-84.
“We need to keep on competing. We control our destiny at this point for the top two spots. Even with injured guys, we can go at it,” said Trillo.
Having lost three of their last five games, the Aces now share first place with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7-3. And the Boosters breathe down their necks at 6-3.
Alaska and Petron are both determined to press their bid entering the homestretch of the elims.
The Aces hope to duplicate their 83-73 win over the Boosters in their previous match – a fateful duel where Alaska, with its unforgiving defense, sent Balkman to a wild outburst in the closing seconds.
Balkman’s antics led to his lifetime ban from the league and prompted Petron Blaze to settle with Rodney White as import replacement.
White had a lousy debut with the Boosters Friday against the Talk n Text Tropang Texters, going 5-of-17 from the field for only 12 points in 31 minutes of action.
The Boosters squandered a six-point lead inside the final minute of regulation and went scoreless in overtime as they suffered a sorry 85-93 loss to the Texters.
Coach Olsen Racela, however, is hopeful White can do better in his second game with the team.
White definitely can play as he’s proven in his brief tour of duty with Barako Bull last year.
He has great credentials, including being drafted by the Detriot Pistons No. 9 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. He had a four-year NBA stint with the Pistons, the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. (SB)
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