ALASKA WELCOMES COMPTON WITH WIN OVER TNT
Alex Compton’s good breaks didn’t end with just being named the Alaska Aces head coach Sunday.
In his coaching debut Monday, they faced a Talk n Text team minus an import with documentation woes.
The Aces asserted themselves at the paint against the Othyus Jeffers-less Talk n Text side and hacked out a 103-91 win to tie San Miguel Beer at third place in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Mahirap ang sitwasyon nila minus an import. It was obviously a clear advantage for us. It’s an unfortunate situation for them,” said Compton, the new Alaska coach taking over from Luigi Trillo.
“Still, it’s good that we won. That was nice,” Compton also said.
The Philippine-born American bench tactician said they stuck with the team’s old system with only a day to prepare for the Texters.
“We have a system in place – a system that has won so many championships. I think we just have to get better,” Compton pointed out.
Stung by the GlobalPort Batang Pier the last time out, Henry Walker and his teammates poured their frustrations on the Texters.
“There’s nothing much adjustment after the coaching change. We still have the same program or stuff. We just put up the right effort that we didn’t have the last time,” Walker said.
The biggest difference was the rebounding won by the Aes at 45-28.
Walker came through with an all-around effort with 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to lead the Aces past the Texters who struggled with Jeffers confined to the bench.
Jeffers was sidelined by a contractual problem with his NBA team the Minnesota Timberwolves. At press time, he had yet to get his clearance from the Timberwolves. During Talk n Text’s first game in the season-ending tourney, Jeffers was allowed to play on a temporary clearance from FIBA.
The Texters actually jumped the gun on the Aces, leading by 12 early on before slowly fading away with a big hole in the middle.
The Aces seized control towards the end of the first half on a 17-point turnaround, and roared on in the final half to catch up with the Beermen at third place with a 2-1 card. The Texters, meanwhile slid to joint fifth with the San Mig Coffee Mixers at 1-1.
Alaska made a big 17-point turnaround in the first half, rallying from an early 12-point deficit and carrying five-point lead, 54-49, over into the final half.
The Aces trailed from the start until Jayvee Casio drained a long two from the right corner to push them ahead at 44-42 with 3:30 left in the second period.
Alaska made it 54-49 at the turn with Cyrus Baguio nailing a trey off Jayson Castro in the waning seconds of the opening half. (SB)
The scores:
ALASKA 103 – Walker 27, Casio 21, Thoss 14, Baguio 14, Espinas 10, Manuel 7, Hontiveros 6, Abueva 4, Dela Cruz 0, Jazul 0, Eman 0.
TALK N’ TEXT 91 – De Ocampo 27, Castro 23, Williams 13, Fonacier 7, Ryan Reyes 6, Alapag 6, Seigle 5, Baclao 2, Carey 2, Rob Reyes 0, Aban 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarterscores: 26-31, 54-49, 77-68, 103-91
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