COMPTON REPLACES TRILLO AS ALASKA HEAD COACH
Alex Compton has taken over the coaching saddle at Alaska from one-time PBA champion coach Luigi Trillo.
Saying “it’s been a challenging ride (for the Aces) the past three conferences, Alaska Aces team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu announced in a statement Sunday the coaching change.
“We are appreciative of Luigi’s efforts during his tenure as head coach and in piloting the Aces to our 14th PBA title,” said Uytengsu.
“The Trillo name will always be fondly associated with the Aces owing to the fact that Joaqui Trillo served as team manager for 25 years as well as the Aces representative to the PBA Board of Governors. And together with his son Luigi, they were the only father/son (team manager-head coach) tandem to lead a franchise to a PBA title,” Uytengsu also said.
The multi-titled ball club, a one-time grand slam winner, effected another change in their coaching lineup since Tim Cone moved over to San Mig Coffee in 2011. Taking over from Cone was Joel Banal, then came Trillo and then Compton.
Trillo steered the Aces to the championship in last year’s Commissioner’s Cup, then the team failed to make it past the quarterfinals in each of the last three conferences.
The team announced Trillo’s resignation curiously after a 91-95 loss to GlobalPort Friday.
“I would like to thank the Alaska organization for the last 16 years of employment. I am leaving the team in good place. I’ll always have fond memories especially the championship we won last year as a team. I’m going to take some time off to spend with my family,” the Alaska statement quoted Trillo as saying.
Compton had been an assistant coach in the PBA for almost a decade before his appointment as Trillo’s replacement.
He served as assistant to Leo Austria at Welcoat, to Bo Perasol at Coca-Cola and to Trillo at Alaska.
Before the start of the current season, Compton was considered by GlobalPort to be its head coach, but the former MBA and PBL star declined due to his contractual obligations with Alaska.
He played high school ball with Madison West in Wisconsin before strutting his stuff in collegiate play with Saint Joseph’s and Cornell U.
He had stints in the PBA as a second import by Rain or Shine in the 2007 and the 2008 Fiesta Conference. (SB)
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