#PBA2015 PREVIEW: KIA CARNIVAL vs ALASKA ACES – SINK OR SWIM
With Kia at ninth place and Alaska just one notch below at tenth, this meeting between the two teams will certainly have big implications moving forward.
A win here will give either team a leg up on the other and will push the victor closer to the next round. A defeat, however, will sink the losing team closer to elimination.
Here are some things we can look at for this game:
- RAMOS’S LONELY WAR
Without a doubt, Ramos has been awesome for Kia, but, by and large, he has been fighting a lonely war. Most of the local Carnival players have been inconsistent this conference despite their three wins. Perhaps the only guy who has been a steady is Leo Avenido. Kia will definitely need more guys to step up if they want to beat Alaska.
Ramos stats vs BLA: 49pts, 14rebs, 3asts, 1blk, 54.3 FG%.
Kia locals scoring 10 or more points: 1 (Avenido)
Kia locals shooting 50% or better (minimum 10 minutes played): 2 (Avenido & Hyram Bagatsing)
- LOCALS BOTTLED UP
After their stirring win over TNT, the Carnival were expected to be the better team against a struggling Blackwater side, but things didn’t turn out the way they planned. After a strong start, Kia lost its hold and allowed Blackwater to dictate the tempo. It didn’t help that locals like Bagatsing, Cervantes, Buensuceso, and Pascual were shackled by the Elite.
Bagatsing + Cervantes + Buensuceso + Pascual vs TNT: 51pts, 10 triples, 51.4 FG%
Bagatsing + Cervantes + Buensuceso + Pascual vs BLA: 23pts, 4 triples, 29.2 FG%
- WHERE’S THE D?
Another thing that plagued Kia was its lackluster defense against BLA. For some stretches, it seemed like Kia lost the intensity they showed in their wins over TNT and Purefoods. They allowed three Elite players to score 22 or more points and forced just 9 Blackwater turnovers.
vs PUR & TNT: 93.5 points allowed & 41.5 FG% allowed, 14.5 turnovers forced
vs BLA: 115 points allowed, 50.6 FG% allowed, 9 turnovers forced
- DE-REILED
One local who also struggled and has been a little up-and-down for Kia is Reil Cervantes. Cervantes was this team’s top player in the previous conference, but he has really been underachieving this conference. He is shooting below 23% from the field and hasn’t scored more than 10 points in a single Commish Cup game yet. Kia will definitely need for him to regain his scoring punch if they want to advance to the next round.
Season stats: 15.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 31.5 3pt%, 37.2 FG%
Comm Cup stats: 9.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 21.1 3pt%, 22.2 FG%
- A NEW DJ IN TOWN
Former Alaska import DJ Covington was “just okay” in his four games in the PBA, but, so far, his replacement Damion James has made a bigger impression. This new “DJ” in town has recorded double-doubles in each of his two games here, though he has still deliver Alaska a win in his tenure. If he can continue putting up good numbers, he may just get that elusive W against Kia.
DJ Covington (4 games): 22.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.3bpg
Damion James (2 games): 33.5ppg, 13.5rpg, 3.0bpg
- MUSCLE MAN
Vic Manuel has been the best local so far this conference for the Aces. He has scored in double-figures in his last two games and has been a picture of efficiency, especially on the offensive end. If he can continue being that kind of player for Alaska, they have a great shot against Kia today.
Comm Cup stats: 10.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4spg, 62.5 FG%
vs BAR: 13pts, 2rebs, 4stls, 50.0 FG%
- BOX OUT!!!
Maybe the single biggest reason for Alaska’s demise at the hands of Barako Bull was rebounding. Outside of James, no Alaska player grabbed more than 6 rebounds. The Aces were actually -13 in rebounding at the end of the game. It also didn’t help that Barako shot better from the field and that the Aces couldn’t capitalize on 26 Barako Bull turnovers.
Rebounding last game: BAR 60, ALA 47
# of Aces with 8 or more rebs: 1 (James)
# of Energy with 8 or more rebs: 4 (Alabi, Marcelo, Pascual, Garcia)
- NOTHING FROM DEEP
Three-point shooting — long a hallmark of Alaska — also failed them in their last game. This is a team that shot close to 30% from beyond the arc prior to the Barako Bull game, but they managed to make only 4/21 in that match. Against a big team like Kia, Alaska will need to get those three-balls dropping.
Prior to BAR game: 24/81 3pts — 29.6%
2 games before BAR game (vs SMB & ROS): 15/43 3pts – 34.9%
vs BAR: 4/21 3pts – 19.0%
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