HUMBLED BUT UNBOWED
Aside from its abrupt coaching change at the start of the conference, the thing that comes to mind when people think about Alaska this conference is its 51-point loss to Rain or Shine.
But the same people perhaps don’t realize that after the embarrassing setback, the Aces racked up four straight victories, with the latest being their 92-81 quarterfinals win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel that secured their first semifinals appearance since winning the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.
It was a total team effort for Alaska, as six locals registered double digits in scoring, with import Henry Walker content with his seven markers.
One of those locals who carried the scoring cudgels for the Aces is Dondon Hontiveros, who had 12 points on 4-of-7 sniping from three-point country.
“Sabi nga ni coach Alex (Compton), ang dami naming pinagdaanan this conference. Yung 51-point loss, yun yung parang wake up call,” he said. “Yung naging reaction ng team, positive, like maganda yung pag-set-up ni Henry Walker sa mga teammates namin dun sa game against San Mig Coffee. We just followed his lead at nagsunod-sunod na yung magandang games at improvements.”
The blowout loss to the E-Painters really woke the competitive spirit of the Aces, as the Cebuano Hotshot said that it really humbled the team as a whole.
“Wala nang pwede pang ibaba eh,” Hontiveros said. “Kaming lahat, di kami nag-give up. Hindi kami yung team na tinambakan at di maka-shoot.”
“Nakita ko si (Rain or Shine owner) Raymond Yu, sabi nya kahit sinong kalaban nila that game, mananalo sila. Kami naman, kahit sino ang kalaban namin, kahit D-League siguro tatalunin kami with the way we played. Tapos na yun and it’s just one of those days na kahit anong try namin, wala talaga.”
And now they are focused on clawing their way back to the top by once again.
“We’re just building, going back to basics, looking for the right guy and eventually, yung mga panalo, nag-pile up na lang,” he said.
When asked if there will be a game reminiscent of that forgettable beatdown, Hontiveros vowed that it will not happen again.
“Tapos na yun. It was one of those games na masama yung laro namin, pero we came back at maganda yung pinakita namin sa mga sumunod na games,” he said.
“This is a good chance para sa amin, hindi para makabawi, pero to show na we’re not the same team na tinalo ng Rain or Shine. Na-challenge kami after that and nag-step up kami after that, and the streak, gusto naming ipagpatuloy.”
Hontiveros also noted the improvement in their scrappy big men, as basically every one stepped up to the plate whenever Compton called their number.
“We want to stick with the basics, one play at a time. Ito rin yung streak na maganda yung pinakita ni Calvin (Abueva) cause he’s getting consistent double-doubles, even Gabby (Espinas) and Vic (Manuel). Kung sino yung taong ipasok ni coach, maganda yung ipapakita,” he said.
“Kaya ito, magandang opportunity na Rain or Shine yung kalaban namin sa semis.” (RL)
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