REGAINING OLD GLORY UNDER NEW MENTORS
The higher seeds in playoffs Day 1 have booked spots in the Final Four. Can Alaska do the same?
The Aces will provide the answer to that question as they tangle with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in their PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Talk n Text and San Mig Coffee eased out Barako Bull and San Miguel Beer in a night’s work. The Aces will be out to do the same in their 8 p.m. tiff with the Kings.
But it’s easier said than done.
Odds are about even in the Alaska-Ginebra faceoff – a duel between teams both looking to regain old glory under new coaches.
The Aces, on one side, are in pursuit of a first Final Four since winning the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup. They have never finished better than sixth after that title run.
The Kings, on the other side, hope to rebound from their eighth-place finish the last time.
Both organizations are determined to make a good run before the current season comes to a close, thus, putting a new man to hold their coaching reins.
Alex Compton and Jeff Cariaso are out to keep their Cinderella ride.
In steering his team to a 3-0 closing run in the elims, Compton and his troops salvaged third seeding in the playoffs and thus enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage over Cariaso and his Gin Kings.
After a 3-0 start, the Kings, on the other hand, slowed down and dropped four of their last six games.
One of their losses was a 66-79 beating at the hands of the Aces.
The Aces were still on the brink of eliminations when they reigned over the Kings to clinch the last slot in the post-elims play.
So decisive was Alaska’s turnaround from a three-game slump that the Aces went all the way to take third spot at the close of the elims.
Their next goal is to sustain their run and land a place in the semifinals versus Rain or Shine or Air21. (SB)
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