#PBA2015 QUARTERFINALS PREVIEW: PUREFOODS STAR HOTSHOTS vs ALASKA ACES – FAMILIAR FOES

The Tim Cone angle has been an ever-present plot-line every time these two teams meet. It’s inevitable, since, for the longest time, Tim Cone was Alaska and vice versa. After leaving the Aces, Cone has continued his coaching dominance, while Alaska has gone on a bit of a roller-coaster ride. Alex Compton, for all his strengths, is Alaska’s second coach since Cone left, and one cannot deny that the Aces are still trying to re-establish the constancy that defined their identity when Cone was still in their fold. Without a doubt, these two teams know each other so well, having played each other in numerous big games in the past few years. With Purefoods hoping to redeem itself after a forgettable first conference and Alaska hoping to turn things around after an up-and-down performance in the elims, this match-up promises to be another memorable and entertaining affair.

Here are some things to watch in this game:

1. DOMINANT DENZEL

The play of Denzel Bowles has been the single greatest thing that pushed PUR up the standings this conference. He has just been a beast on both ends of the floor, finishing strong around the basket and hitting his perimeter shots. It sure looks like he has regained the form that helped him lead the then B-Meg Llamados to the Commish Cup title a few years ago. ALA has to find a way to slow him down or they’re done. Simple as that.

Comm Cup stats: 33.4ppg, 15.2rpg, 3.8apg, 2.8bpg, 48.5 FG%

– Top 3 in scoring among imports

– Top 4 in rebounding among imports

– Top 3 in assists among imports

– Top 3 in blocks among imports

2. HOT SHOTS’ HOT SHOOTING

One thing that the PUR should be able to rely on in this game is its outside shooting. The Hotshots have lived up to their moniker thus far as they are the third-best three-point shooting team in the league and are the #1 FG shooting team of all twelve clubs. In their previous game against ALA (2-3-2015), PUR shot ten triples and made more than 50% of their FGs. If they can approximate that performance here, they should be in great shape to win.

Team FG%: 45.1% – #1 in the league

Team 3pt%: 32.2% – #3 in the league

Last game vs ALA:

– Hit 10/23 triples (43.5%)

– Hit 38/75 FGs (50.7%)

3. BENCH MOB: BARROCA, SIMON, AND MALIKSI

All throughout the conference, PUR’s offense has been buoyed by its bench.  Mark Barroca, PJ Simon, and Allein Maliksi have started only a combined 7 games out of a possible 28 (they missed a combined 5 games), but their combined are averages are as follows: 28.7ppg, 8.9rpg, 104/213 FG shooting (48.8%). If they can be productive again in this game, the Aces are going to be in big trouble.

Comm Cup stats: 

Barroca – 11.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, 31.1 3pt%, 46.0 FG%

Maliksi – 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.4 triples per game, 46.7 3pt%, 49.3 FG%

Simon – 8.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 54.5 FG%

4. FIERY FORWARDS

Without a doubt, PUR has one of the best forward tandems in the league in the persons of Marc Pingris and Joe Devance. Ping is the emobidment of boundless energy in the shaded lane, while Devance is just a perpetual match-up nightmare at either forward spot. He is bigger than most other SFs, and is more agile than most other PFs. ALA has to find a way to neutralize PUR’s depth and versatility at the frontline.

Comm cup stats: 

Ping – 8.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 56.5 FG%

JDV – 8.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.8apg, 40.0 FG%

5. DEMON DAMION

When PUR beat ALA earlier this conference, the Hotshots were pretty dominant, but one guy who didn’t play in that game and who is playing quite well right now is ALA import Damion James. James has shown a lot of versatility as the Aces’ import, able to score from all over the floor, grab a ton of rebounds, and play great defense. Demon Damion should be prove to be a great match for Bowles, and whoever plays better will certainly boost his team’s chances of winning. James, however, has to improve his FG shooting clip.

Comm Cup stats: 26.7ppg, 14.3rpg, 2.0apg, 2.1spg ,1.4bpg, 1.9 triples per game, 39.9 FG%

6. BAGYONG BAGUIO

In ALA’s final elims game, All-Star wingman Cyrus Baguio stepped up big time, scoring 17 points and making all but one of his field goals. He was a whirlwind on offense, handing out 5 assists and attracting the Gin Kings’ defense with his aggressiveness. If he can continue to be an active contributor against PUR, the Aces will prove to be tough to beat.

Comm Cup stats: 9.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.6spg, 44.8 FG%

vs GIN: 17pts, 3rebs, 5asts, 7/8 Fgs, 2 triples

7. ONE HELLA ABUEVA

Not surprisingly, Calvin Abueva also came up big for ALA against GIN. The Beast had one helluva performance, registering 16 markers and 6 rebounds on top of 7/10 FG shooting. This is a good sign as Abueva has been a little inconsistent this conference. Needless to say, ALA will need their best local player at his peak form against the deep and versatile PUR roster.

Comm Cup stats: 10.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 47.8 FG%

vs GIN: 16pts, 6rebs, 7/10 FGs

8. GANADO SI BANCHERO?

One guy who seems to be the barometer of ALA’s success or failure is rookie Chris Banchero. Banchero played well in ALA’s previous game against PUR, scoring 16 points in a supporting role off the bench, but he has struggled in his last two games, scoring just 3 points per game and shooting 30% from the field. If Banchero can provide a spark off the bench, the Aces should provide a stiff challenge.

Comm Cup stats: 6.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, 40.0 FG%

last two games: 3.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.0apg, 30.0 FG%

9. MARQUEE MATCH-UP: TIM CONE VS ALEX COMPTON

Without a doubt, one of the key match-ups in this game won’t even be on the hardwood. Instead, it will be at the sidelines, where opposing coaches Tim Cone and Alex Compton are sure t match wits. In terms of their head-to-head match-ups, Compton has the slight edge over the more fancied Cone, but we all know that real winning happens in the playoffs, right? In that respect, Compton still has a lot to prove before he can rival the achievements of coach Tim.

Previous match-ups:

ALA beat SMC in 2014 Govs Cup elims: 93-84

ALA beat PUR in 2014-2015 PHL Cup elims: 93-73

PUR beat ALA in 2015 Comm Cup elims: 108-88

Coaching head-to-head: Compton leads, 2-1.

*pls verify

10 PREVIOUS MATCH-UP: PUREFOODS DOMINATES

In the latest contest pitting these two clubs, PUR dominated from the start and cruised to the 20-point victory. James Yap topped the scoring with 17pts, while Marqus Blakely recorded a 17-pt, 11-reb double-double. Alex Mallari also stepped up with 17 markers, while Ping and Allein Maliksi had 12 and 11 points respectively. ALA, meanwhile, was paced by then import DJ Covington, who had 19pts, but they were plagued by deficient rebounding (38-51)and anaemic 3pt shooting (18.8%). PUR also did well in playmaking, assisting on 25 of their 38 FG makes. If ALA is to provide a challenge in this series, the Aces will need to neutralize PUR’s rebounding edge and make a ton of shots.

PUR

Yap – 17pts

Blakely – 17pts

Mallari – 17pts

ALA

Covington – 19pts

Banchero – 16pts

Abueva 12pts

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